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| President Magufuli with other former Tanzanian Presidents |
_Staff Writers, Dar and Cairo_
President John Magufuli of Tanzania on Friday 26th July, 2019 writes another history by launching the construction of the fourth biggest hydro dam in Africa and the biggest in East Africa.
The 2,115 megawatts Rufiju Hydropower project to be officiated marks the fulfilment of the dream of the country's late Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
The project which is financed by taxpayers’ money at the cost of tsh 6.5 trillion ($ 3 billion) is expected to be completed by 2022.
The government has already issued the biggest down payments worth tsh 688. 651/- billion ($309.645) for the purpose.
According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Doto James, it is the first time for the government of Tanzania to issue such huge amount of money as down payments to finance its developmental project.
Upon completion, the project which has the reservoir length of 100 km and covering an area of about 1,350 square km will provide for the country’s emerging industries and exporting the surplus to other East African Countries.
The project which is implemented by the Egyptian consortium, Arab Contractors and El Sewedy Electric Company is expected to foster the East African country's economy as the country expects to acquire the middle income economy status by 2025.
According to Tanzania Electrical Company (TANESCO) the installed electricity generation capacity in Tanzania from hydro-power plants, natural gas and independent power producers which uses heavy furnace oil currently stands at just 1,600 megawatts.
The 2,115 megawatts Rufiji plant is slated to further boost power generation
and upon the project completion in the next three years, Tanzania will become the leading power producer and supplier in East Africa.
The project would reduce power costs, attract more investments and reduce prices of locally produced products.
The project will stimulate industrialization by adding to the national grid marking a major milestone in Tanzania’s power generation sector.
In addition, it will employ an estimated 12,000 Tanzanians directly and will boost the tourism industry through sport fishing, boat rides, and photographic safaris.
The project will also stimulate tourism and expand towns. Villagers will also benefit immensely as 37 villages between Kibiti and Chalinze have been connected to electricity just at the initial stages of the project preparations.
The launching of the project will also be attended by the high level delegation from the government of Egypt, Tanzania government officials, Ministers, Members of the parliament and the public at large.
Africa’s largest dam is Ethiopia’s Renaissance, which is under construction, with 6,450MW expected upon completion in 2022. Mambira Dam in Nigeria, follows second with 3,050MW ahead of Ethiopian Shaika Dam that produces 2,160MW.
The Aswan Dam in Egypt, with 2,100MW comes fifth in the ranking, beating Raula Dam in Angola, which produces 2,066M.
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