Tanzania commissions the country's largest Hydropower Plant

Tanzania inaugurated a 2,115 megawatt hydroelectric plant on Saturday, more than double the East African nation’s capacity to generate electricity. The surplus generated could be used for power exports or industrial growth.

The JNHPP, Tanzania's largest power plant was built along the Rufiji River for a total cost of approximately 7.45 trillion Tanzanian Shillings (2.84 billion dollars).

The plant was inaugurated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. He said that the plant had eliminated a power shortage which in the past led to frequent blackouts and economic crippling.

She said: "We're confident that this project will create more opportunities for businesses, investments, and production. It will also boost individual incomes and the national GDP." Energy Minister Deogratius ndejembi stated that the project will increase the country's power generation capacity from 4,646 MW to 2,271MW at peak, leaving an excess of 2,375 MW available for export. He said that Tanzania is already in talks to export electricity to Kenya and Zambia. The construction of the plant started in 2019. Conservation groups criticized the project, arguing that building a large dam on the river running through the Selous Game Reserve would affect wildlife and habitats downstream.

According to the United Nations agency UNESCO, this reserve is one of the largest protected areas of Africa. It contains a significant concentration of animals, including elephants, cheetahs, 'black rhinos' and a variety of habitats.

Hassan acknowledged that the project had a?controversial past, but claimed that Tanzania overcame opposition during its development.

She said, "We could not abandon this project given its importance for our nation."

The plant is now in operation, and hydropower accounts for approximately 60% of Tanzania's electricity generation. A significant portion of this power is also generated by natural gas. $1 = 2,620,0000 Tanzanian Shillings (Reporting and writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Joe Bavier).

(source: Reuters)