Why Nyerere power project is much more than electricity

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday issued eight directives, which suggest that the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Project (JNHPP) is set to offer a range of benefits beyond electricity generation.

President Hassan issued the directives after closing water diversion channels at the dam to begin the process of filling the reservoir.

“I’m aware that the Rufiji Delta encompasses 400,000 hectares that are suitable for irrigation. It’s time the Agriculture ministry surveyed and carved out large irrigation parcels and allocated them fairly to potential agriculture investors.

“The ministry should also establish blocks with installed irrigation systems to be offered to the local community, which mostly comprises smallholders. This will not only enhance their incomes, but also boost the country’s food security,” she said.

The Head of State also directed the Livestock and Fisheries ministry to oversee sustainable fishing on a man-made lake to be created in the vicinity.

“I have been told that the reservoir will create a large man-made lake, which will be bigger than Lake Rukwa. Since the lake will be located in a national park, the ministry responsible for fisheries should ensure that there is sustainable fishing,” President Hassan said.

At 2,600 square kilometres, Lake Rukwa is currently the third largest inland water body by surface area in Tanzania.

Other benefits that the hydropower project will provide beyond electricity generation include infrastructure development after President Hassan directed the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) to build a tarmac road between Utete in Rufiji District and Chalinze in Bagamoyo District.

“We want to open up the Southern Circuit. A modern bridge has already been built across the Rufiji River. Tanroads should now focus on constructing a tarmac road between Chalinze and Utete to facilitate transport,” she said.

“There will be no need for a person travelling to, say, Arusha or Dodoma to go through Dar es Salaam.”

The driving distance between Utete, one of 22 wards in Rufiji District, and Chalinze is 327 kilometres.

President Hassan also directed the Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority (Dawasa) to set up a water treatment plant in Mloka Town.

“Due to the effects of climate change, we cannot depend on the Ruvu River alone to supply Dar es Salaam with water. I’m told that it will take up to 48 months for the Mindu Dam to be completed. We can’t wait that long."

“With this reservoir, we will have enough water to cater for the needs of Dar es Salaam and even Tanga and Morogoro regions as well. Dawasa should build a water a purification plant in Mloka.”

On environmental conservation in the country’s basins, President Hassan said, “There are three major rivers that feed the Rufiji River and this dam, including Kilombero, which contributes 65 percent of the water. Others are Luwegu and Great Ruaha, which contribute 19 and 15 percent, respectively.

“By all means, we should seriously protect the environment, and those who divert water for their own undertakings on the Great Ruaha should stop immediately. This also applies to the Kilombero water catchment area. Water should be allowed to flow freely.”

The President reiterated Vice President Philip Mpango’s directive that cattle and other livestock be moved out of the Great Ruaha catchment areas, saying, “I second the Vice President’s directive. All livestock should be removed from those areas."

“However, this should be done in line with the law. We also need to assess whether villages are capable of accommodating all these animals. The exercise should be conducted professionally and with human rights in mind.”

President Hassan also ordered institutions and individuals diverting water from the Rufiji Basin for commercial purposes to stop immediately, and directed the relevant authority to monitor proper water distribution according to existing regulations.

“If you are to issue a water use permit, then you should do it downstream, not upstream, which runs the risk of blocking water to the dam. You should tell them (investors) to move downstream, where there is also plenty of water,” she said.

The President also called for the formation of environmental committees at the ward level that would help in protecting water basins.

“You should empower them with skills. This is a huge project being undertaken with taxpayers’ money. We need to protect it in order to benefit from it."

Yesterday’s event marked the beginning of the filling of the reservoir that extends 158,000 square kilometres upstream of the main dam, and has an operational capacity of 32.7 billion cubic metres and a maximum design capacity of 34 billion cubic metres.