Africa's Energy Market

Addressing Losses through Smart Metering:

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Africa's energy sector faces significant technical and commercial challenges. According to various sources* power utilities struggle with losses exceeding 20-40% in many countries due to a mix of outdated infrastructure, theft, and inefficient billing systems. These losses hinder investment, affect grid stability, and limit electrification progress.

Current Market Status:

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The shift toward smart metering and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is gaining momentum. Donors and governments are funding large-scale rollouts in key markets in many African countries. Smart metering helps utilities reduce losses, improve revenue collection, and gain visibility into grid performance.

As an example the world bank supported TANESCO and the Government of Tanzania to launch in 2022 a major implementation phase completed by early 2024

Tanzania – Tanesco Smart Metering Project (2022–2024)

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Below the key details :

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🔧 Smart Grid/AMI Components:

• Installation of smart prepayment meters for medium and large electricity customers

• Deployment of AMI communication infrastructure (GSM/3G, RF Mesh)

• Integration with a Meter Data Management System (MDMS) and billing platform

• Remote monitoring and control capability for TANESCO technicians

📊 Results:

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• Improved revenue collection and reduced unpaid bills among targeted customer segments

• Faster detection and response to outages and meter tampering

• Set the foundation for future grid automation and demand-side management

Opportunity for Actions:

Based on our 20+ years of experience working with electricity utilities, it appears that there is a clear need for cost-effective, scalable solutions that support remote monitoring, prepayment, load management, and integration with modern software platforms.