The incredible £7.6bn African power plant that’s one of world’s biggest hydroelectric dams | World | News
Africa is investing billions of pound in developing its energy infrastructure, as it seeks to build the platform for future economic growth and prosperity.
The continent is home to some of the most cost-competitive renewable resources in the world.
Many countries possess high-potential resources for hydropower, geothermal and wind, as well as solar.
Total electricity sector investment is expected to increase four fold from just under USD 30 billion (£23bn) to more than USD 120 billion (£92bn) by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Africa Scenario plan.
Around 50 percent of that investment will go towards renewable energy production.
One country is already leading the way with a meg-hydropower plant that will produce a whopping 5,920 gigawatt hour of power annually through its nine turbines.
The Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant And Dam in Tanzania is nearing completion after plans for its construction were approved in 2018.
The power station and dam are owned and will be managed by the government owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company.
Construction began in 2019 and is expected to finish by the end of 2024.
The building work has been carried out by the Egyptian companies Arab Contractors and El Sewedy Electric.
The dam’s height is about 134 metres and is 1,025 metres long. The 100km-long (62 miles) reservoir lake that comes with it will hold 34 million cubic metres of water.
When completed, the dam will be the fourth largest in Africa and ninth in the world, as well as being the biggest power station in East Africa.
The cost of the project was initially estimated to come to US$3 billion (£2.2bn).
However, an independent study puts the likely final cost of the project at more than double the original estimate.
Assessor Joerg Hartmann said it would likely cost US$7.58 billion (£5.9bn) once financing and other costs are taken into account, with cost overruns potentially driving it to $9.85 billion (£7.6bn).
OECD Watch said this estimate does not factor in indirect costs, such as impact on the Selous World Heritage site where the project is being built, as well as the wildlife and people living downstream.
