By Spy Uganda Correspondent
Egypt and Tanzania have started filling the Julius Nyerere Dam for the new 2,115 MW hydropower plant. The project cost is said to be about $3 billion.
Tanzania currently has an installed capacity of around 1,600 MW. 48% of this capacity is from natural gas, 31% from hydropower, with the rest mostly from other fossil fuels.
The contribution from solar is still below 1%. The Julius Nyerere hydropower plant will see Tanzania’s installed capacity jump to about 3,700 MW. This will give a much needed boost to power economic growth in a country with a population of about 63 million people.
“We join the Tanzanian state’s leadership, government and people in their celebration of this very important event for our brothers in Tanzania,” a statement by the Egyptian Housing Ministry read.
Mega Project, Huge Cooperation
The mega dam, whose construction began in 2019, is being carried out by the Egyptian consortium of Arab Contractors and El Sewedy Electric.
The project aims at providing Tanzania with required power and controlling the Rufiji River flood.
Cooperation between the two countries to implement the project “confirms the Egyptian companies’ ability in implementing mega projects, especially for our brothers in the African continent,” the statement said.
Filling The Dam
Water level behind the dam is set to reach 163 meters at a capacity of 13.5 billion cubic meters by April 2023, according to hydrological studies, which vary annually according to the expected amounts of rain.
The water level at the lake will reach its maximum by June 2024 at 184 meters with a capacity of 34 billion cubic meters.
The project includes establishing a dam on the Rufiji River at a height of 134 meters with seven gates for water and at capacity of around 34 billion cubic meters.
The project also includes a hydropower station with a capacity of 2,115 MW beside the Rufiji River in the Selous Game Reserve west of Dar Es-Salam City.
The electricity generated via the 400kV high voltage power line will be transferred to a substation where the electricity will be integrated into the country’s national electricity grid.
