The completion of Tanzania's Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (NHPP) promises to alleviate the country's electricity shortage, the Tanzanian Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Felchesmi Mramba, said.
"Through the Mwalimu Nyerere dam, we hope to address the initial problem of electricity shortage, and we are in the final stages," he was quoted by the media as saying.
According to Mramba, one of the project's plants, which is undergoing successful tests, is expected to mitigate over 80% of the current power deficit by injecting 235 megawatts into the system. The second plant has completed dry testing and is about to begin wet testing.
"These tests usually take two weeks, and we estimate that by mid-March, the second plant's testing will be completed," he was quoted as saying.
In response to concerns about water availability, Mramba emphasized the ample water levels in the Mwalimu Nyerere dam, indicating a positive forecast for power generation.
"The amount of water entering Mtera and Mwalimu Nyerere's dam has surpassed expectations, with only a few metres left to reach maximum capacity," he reassured.
Construction of the NHPP is currently underway on the Rufiji River in eastern Tanzania. The government-owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) will own and manage the power station and dam upon completion. The project was started in 2019 and is set to be completed in 2024.