Power generation at Mtera and Kidatu dams is set to decline further owing to decreasing water levels. The situation has been attributed to rainfall decrease in the country's southern highlands.
The fall of water levels in Mtera and Kidatu dams, which are the major hydro electric power generating centers, is said to be the consequence of severe climate change which is expected to cause the decrease in rainfalls.
Kidatu has four turbines with capacity to produce 200MW and Mtera has two turbines with 80MW capacity.
Presenting a paper on climate change and the country's situation in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Dr Ladislaus Chang'a from the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) said while some parts of the country would experience extreme rainfalls and strong winds, southern highlands will experience below normal rains.
"The entire country is expected to experience rise in temperature to about three degrees centigrade in western part of the country, some parts of the country will experience a decline in rainfall especially the southern highlands," said Dr Chang'a.
"These are facts caused by climate change, other effects we are likely to experience are the decrease in agricultural production and rise in malaria."
Dr Chang'a however called for more awareness campaigns among the public on the effects of climate change. He also said, "Many causes of climate change are manmade... development activities contribute more to carbon emissions which are disastrous to the environment."
Earlier, opening the pre-launching of the State of the World Population Report for 2009 titled: "Facing a Changing World: Women, Population and Climate Change," Dr Julitta Onabanjo, the UNFPA Country Representative, said people have the power to mitigate the effects of the climate change.
"While immediate investments in green technology and reducing emissions is crucially important, this year's State of the World Population Report points out that technology alone cannot solve global climate change problems," said Dr Onabanjo. The full report will be launched tomorrow.
He noted that it was important to know that climate change affects people, women, men, boys and girls and the role the public to bring about change.
Dr Onabanjo said the increased drought-induced cattle deaths witnessed in Manyara region and the recent mudslides in Goha village in Kilimanjao region were clear indications that the effects of climate change was about people and was happening in the country.
In another development, the UNDP Energy and Environment specialist Mr Bariki Kaale said women and children were the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
"We need to take emergency measures to mitigate the effects of climate change before it gets worse,"said Mr Kaale.
