Historic milestone

• JNHPP starts production ahead of schedule

COAST REGION: THE government on Sunday affirmed that power shortage, which has led to current rationing, will completely end next month as the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) now starts injecting electricity into the national grid.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Doto Biteko, who doubles as Energy Minister, said the project has so far pumped 235MW into the grid from the first turbine, which, according to the schedule it was supposed to start in June, this year.

The project’s contractor, Arab Contractors and El- Sewedy Electric Company Joint Venture Company (JVACEE), attributed the early operations to the push from the energy ministry to ensure the Tanzanians see results of the projects at the earliest.

“One out of nine turbines of the project started generating 235MW for the national grid from 22nd this month, this has reduced the current power rationing by 85 per cent. The second turbine will start running from next March,” Dr Biteko stated.

Generating power from the second turbine will enable the country to produce a surplus of 70MW.

“Once the second turbine starts generating electricity, we will no longer have power rationing,” the Deputy Premier stated.

However, he was quick to point out that if power cuts would occur that would be due to technical faults. He made a statement yesterday when he visited the project along with the heads of media institutions, editors and reporters.

“A lot has been said, we have chosen to work, to bring results. After March we will not speak of power shortage, unless calamities occur,” he emphasised.

Dr Biteko further attributed the speedy implementation of the project to the efforts by the sixth-phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan who when, she ascended to power, the project was at only 33 per cent completion, but now it has reached 96.28 per cent.

Explaining the power shortage, he said, the country has in recent years witnessed significant economic growth along with an increased number of industries, while sources of electricity remained the same since 2016. The increased economic production led to demand for more electricity.

The Deputy Minister further stated that the government now focuses on having a permanent solution to the electricity challenge by introducing and developing other sources of power.

“The president no longer looks at power challenges in terms of short-term solutions. But she looks beyond 30 to 40 years to come,” Dr Biteko noted. Mr Mohamed Zaky, project manager from the JVACEE, said “We have made our best to accomplish the dream.

This month we have succeeded in generating power from the first turbine. Inshallah (God willing) next month, we will start generating from another turbine.

” He hailed Dr Biteko for his efforts of ensuring that the project becomes operational even before the time, noting that the deputy premier was pushing them to speedily implement the scheme.

Earlier, when giving a report on the implementation, project resident Engineer John Skauki said that by late January, the project generally reached 96.28 per cent completion.

This includes completion of the Powerhouse by 89.49 per cent, Switchyard (99.93 per cent), Operation village (98.5 per cent), saddle dam (99.8 per cent) and the construction of the permanent road to the site has reached 83.03 per cent.

On the other hand, the water reservoir has continued accumulating water as currently it has been filled by 85.79 per cent. Commenting, Water Minister Jumaa Aweso assured that the country’s rivers have enough waters for producing power, citing Kihansi and Kidatu rivers. Mr Aweso warned ministry’s officials who would sabotage the efforts of producing power from hydro sources.

“We will work diligently to ensure that water from Rufiji River fills the JNHPP for electricity production. We call upon the media to educate the public about the importance of protecting water sources at their areas,” Mr Aweso appealed.

On his part, Director General of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), Eng Gissima Nyamo Hanga said the power production target is to reach 10,000MW for the national grid by the year 2035.