Tanzania closes five hydroelectric stations over excess electricity

United Republic of Tanzania has shut down five of its hydroelectric power stations to cut down on the surplus electricity produced by its national grid.

The primary power plant of the nation, the Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, has produced enough electricity on its own to run major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the centre of commerce for the nation.

The Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited, Tanesco, in a statement released said the country is witnessing a low demand in electricity consumption despite generating excess and no allocation to distribute its surplus.

We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now.

With the commencement of this year’s intense rains, the 2,115 megawatts (MW) Julius Nyerere hydropower dam is reportedly nearly full.

Meanwhile, to help relieve months-long power rationing, authorities in February turned on the first 235 MW turbine of a new hydroelectric facility, doubling the capacity of power generation.

The decision to turn off five stations because of low demand marks Tanzania’s first time, as the country is known mostly for suffering power outages.

Despite being known for rationing electricity due to broken infrastructure and drought, the country has transitioned giving room for Foreign Direct Investment and outsourcing.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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