Why Tanzania Shut Down 5 Electricity Production Plants
- Authorities in Tanzania have shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid
- This is as many African countries, including Nigeria, are struggling to generate enough power for their citizens
- According to reports, the Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station produced sufficient electricity to supply major cities
Tanzanian authorities have closed down five hydroelectric stations to alleviate surplus electricity in the national grid.
This marks the first instance of Tanzania shutting down hydroelectric stations due to overproduction. Photo credit – Geregu Power, Ventures Africa Source: UGC
This information was made known by the country’s Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, Daily Trust reports.
According to Majaliwa, the primary facility, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, produced sufficient electricity to supply major cities such as Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
This marks the first instance of Tanzania shutting down hydroelectric stations due to overproduction, a significant move for a country plagued by chronic power shortages.
An official from the state-run power company, Tanesco, said:
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now.”
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is reportedly nearing full capacity due to heavy rains that began earlier this year.
Independent power producers to sell power in EA
In other related news, Kenya’s Energy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Davis Chirchir said the Eastern Africa Power Pool was developing discussions on how IPPs could sell power across the region.
Independent Power Producers (IPPs) supplied Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) with 33.5% of power in the year to June 2023.
The IPPs build, own and operate power stations and sell the power in bulk to KPLC, the electricity distributor.