THERE is every indication that the government’s dream to have sufficient power supply by 2025 could soon come to reality. The optimism is born out of the improved pace of implementation of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), which is under construction across the Rufiji River at a cost of 6.55tri/-.
The construction work for the mega power project which commenced in December 2018 is now being executed 24-hours a day, and has now reached 67 per cent of completion, with the deadline set for 2024.
According to Energy Minister, January Makamba the pace of implementation has been impressive of late. Makamba says while the project had reached only 37 per cent between December 2018 and June 2021, which was relatively below the target, the execution rate went up to 67 per cent between June 2021 to present.
Within a year, we have managed to almost double the speed of implementation of the project compared to the status that was attained in the first two and half years,” he said.
“Right now, the project is being implemented day and night regardless of the public holidays; the target is to have it completed by 2024,” he added.
This, according to the minister, is a result of deliberate efforts by the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan to speed up the project. He says the president has thrown all the weight to ensure the power station project is effectively implemented and completed as planned for national development.
The efforts are in line with the 2020-2025 election manifesto of the ruling CCM party and the 3rd National Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III), 2021/22-2025/26. Mr Makamba noted further that the improved pace of implementation is also a result of management reshuffle in the board and management of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco).
In September last year, President Samia made swift changes of the management at the stateowned power utility by appoint new board chairman and new managing director. The president appointed Mr Omary Issa to chair the Board of Directors of Tanesco.
Prior to his new role, Mr Issa was the former Chief Executive at President’s Delivery Bureau (PDB). The Head of State also named Mr Maharage Chande as the new Managing Director of Tanesco, replacing Dr Tito Mwinuka.
Prior to his appointment Chande was the Multichoice Africa’s Executive Director who was representing the multinational company in the East African and West Africa zones.
Mr Issa and Chande had hit the ground running by transforming the operational system for the sake of improving productivity in all the projects. Mr Chande attributed innovation, proper planning and reasonable investment as the secrets behind the rapid implementation of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project.
“The project needs to be supervised properly as well as getting sufficient human and financial resources. Also, it was crucial to master all the skills of resolving disputes that delays completion of the project,” he said.
To ensure effective funding, the government has in this financial year, 2022/23, allocated 1.44 tri/- for the JNHPP. The project’s Egyptian contractors – Elsewedy Electric and Arab Construction – on different occasions vowed to complete the project on time. Egyptian Minister of Housing, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Assem El-Gazzar toured the JNHPP site in June, this year, and expressed satisfaction with its progress.
He was informed that the majority of the construction work on the body of the main dam had almost been completed. The Egyptian minister was also impressed with the pace of installing the electrical switchyard, which connects the dam to the Tanzanian power grid.
The JNHPP will be the largest electricity scheme installed in East Africa and among the largest in Africa in comparison to Egypt’s Aswan High Dam (2,100 MW), Mozambique’s Cahora Bassa Dam (2,075 MW) and Angola’s Lauca Dam (2,069 MW).
The power generated will be evacuated via a new 400kV high voltage power line to a substation where the power will be integrated into the national electricity grid.
The JNHPP is expected to transform the country through the generation and supply of reliable electricity for both domestic and industrial use, besides making the country improve in its manufacturing sector.
