Quick Navigation
- Background: Why Tanzania is a key market
- Rural Energy Agency (REA)
- Zola Electric (formerly Off Grid Electric)
- Mobisol Tanzania
- Rex Energy Tanzania
- Nuru Energy East Africa
- Ensol Tanzania Ltd
- Tanzania Electric Supply Co (TANESCO Projects)
- Chinese EPCs (Sinohydro, CWE, AVIC)
- NGO & Donor Projects (World Bank, UNDP, AfDB)
- Private Estate and Tourism Projects
- Comparison of Key Players
- Final Takeaway
- Work With Sunlurio
Background: Why Tanzania is a key market
Tanzania’s electrification rate is still below 40% in many rural districts. The Rural Energy Agency (REA), backed by the World Bank and AfDB, runs programs to expand off-grid solar lighting. Solar street lights are often bundled with rural road upgrades and village electrification.
Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Arusha have seen urban lighting projects, but the real demand is in rural and peri-urban roads. For EPC contractors, tenders often come with donor-backed financing, which reduces payment risk but demands strict compliance (IEC, IP66, LiFePO₄).
REA is the government body managing rural electrification. They issue tenders for solar street lights across rural roads and trading centers.
Case Example: In 2021 REA tendered 1,500 solar street lights for Dodoma and Singida rural highways, financed by World Bank Energy Loan.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Largest buyer in Tanzania | Bureaucratic process |
| Donor-backed funding | Tender paperwork heavy |
| Reliable payments | Competition is intense |
Zola Electric (formerly Off Grid Electric)
Zola is a pan-African solar provider, with HQ in Tanzania. They are known for pay-go solar, but they also handle public lighting under community programs.
Case Example: In 2020 Zola installed 200 solar street lights in Arusha communities, supported by donor funds.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Strong brand in Tanzania | Lighting is not main business |
| Pay-go and financing model | Specs lower than top EPC suppliers |
| Trusted by NGOs | Limited for big highways |
Mobisol (now part of ENGIE) operates widely in East Africa. In Tanzania, they supply solar home systems and also provide solar street lights for rural centers.
Case Example: In 2019 Mobisol delivered 250 solar street lights in Mwanza region, tied to a village electrification program.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Backed by ENGIE | High cost |
| Reliable donor partner | Focus more on home systems |
| Good in rural areas | Limited big city projects |
Rex Energy is a Tanzanian renewable company supplying solar kits and lighting. They focus on affordable solutions for councils.
Case Example: In 2022 Rex Energy installed 120 solar lights in Morogoro rural roads.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Affordable, local presence | Specs mid-range |
| Good for councils | Limited compliance docs |
| Quick delivery in central regions | Small capacity |
Nuru Energy works across East Africa on community energy. In Tanzania, they partner with NGOs for solar lighting.
Case Example: In 2020 Nuru provided 100 lights for rural schools in Iringa, funded by UNDP.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| NGO trusted | Small-scale |
| Focus on schools and clinics | Not for highways |
| Low-cost lights | Specs not donor-grade |
Ensol is a Tanzanian engineering company, handling solar mini-grids and street lighting. They often partner with donors.
Case Example: In 2021 Ensol supplied 180 street lights for Dar es Salaam peri-urban roads.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Tanzanian EPC | Medium scale only |
| Known to REA | Pricing higher than traders |
| Technical capacity solid | Focus on southern regions |
Tanzania Electric Supply Co (TANESCO Projects)
TANESCO manages grid electricity but also implements solar street lights in towns.
Case Example: In 2020 TANESCO deployed 300 solar lights in Dodoma city under a government PPP.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Government-backed | Bureaucratic |
| Larger city projects | Slow execution |
| Secure payments | Specs vary by contractor |
Chinese EPCs (Sinohydro, CWE, AVIC)
Chinese contractors are active in Tanzania, especially with road projects. Solar street lights are often included.
Case Example: In 2021 Sinohydro installed 500 solar lights along Dar es Salaam ring road as part of a highway upgrade.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Scale and finance from China | Bureaucratic |
| PPP projects | Not flexible |
| Donor-compliant systems | Local EPCs sidelined |
NGO & Donor Projects (World Bank, UNDP, AfDB)
World Bank and AfDB fund many rural lighting projects. NGOs implement in schools, clinics, trading centers.
Case Example: 2022 World Bank-financed 600 solar lights in rural Tabora. Suppliers included Ensol and Rex.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Financing secure | Slow paperwork |
| Projects across rural areas | Specs fixed by donor |
| EPC partnership opportunities | No flexibility |
Private Estate and Tourism Projects
Tourism estates and lodges use solar lights for safety and marketing. Smaller EPCs supply these projects.
Case Example: 2021 Serengeti lodge area installed 80 solar lights from a local supplier.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Niche but steady demand | Small orders only |
| Higher margins | Not donor scale |
| Stable payments | Not suitable for EPC growth |
| Company | Strength | Example Project | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| REA | Government body | 1500 units Dodoma, 2021 | Rural highways |
| Zola Electric | Pay-go brand | 200 units Arusha, 2020 | NGO/community |
| Mobisol/ENGIE | International | 250 units Mwanza, 2019 | Rural donor |
| Rex Energy | Local, affordable | 120 units Morogoro, 2022 | Councils |
| Nuru Energy | NGO partner | 100 units Iringa schools, 2020 | NGO |
| Ensol | Tanzanian EPC | 180 units Dar es Salaam, 2021 | Mid-scale |
| TANESCO | Utility-backed | 300 units Dodoma, 2020 | Urban PPP |
| Chinese EPCs | Scale + finance | 500 units Dar ring road, 2021 | Highways |
| Donor Projects | Secure finance | 600 units Tabora, 2022 | Rural donor |
| Tourism Projects | Niche | 80 units Serengeti, 2021 | Private estates |
Tanzania is a donor-heavy solar street light market. REA, World Bank, and AfDB fund the biggest rural tenders. EPCs need compliance-ready suppliers, or risk losing bids.
- For rural donor programs: Ensol, Rex, Mobisol, Zola are common.
- For PPP highways: Sinohydro, TANESCO dominate.
- For NGOs: Nuru and smaller firms fit.
But the gap is clear: many suppliers lack 230 lm/W LEDs, 6000-cycle LiFePO₄, ISO 12944 poles, and IEC/CE documents. This is where Sunlurio can help EPCs win tenders.
For Tanzania EPC bids you need:
- Donor-grade paperwork (IEC, CE, LM-80)
- Long-life systems for rural dust and heat
- Poles that survive in Dodoma and Dar weather
- Quick container loading to match REA timelines
Sunlurio offers:
- 230 lm/W LED, ≥12 h per night, 3+ days autonomy
- 6000+ cycle LiFePO₄ batteries
- Hot-dip galvanized poles, ISO 12944, 720 h salt spray
- Full compliance package for donor and PPP projects
👉 Position your EPC bid stronger. Partner with Sunlurio for compliance-ready solar street lights in Tanzania.
