By William Emmanuel Ukpoju
In a rare move, the United Republic of Tanzania has temporarily shut down five of its hydroelectric stations to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
According to Tanzania’s Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, has generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
An official from a state-run power company, Tanesco, confirmed that the stations were shut down due to low demand and excess electricity production. “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 official said.
The 2,115 MW Julius Nyerere hydropower dam is said to be almost full of water, following heavy rains that started early this year. This is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
The move comes amid extreme weather conditions in East Africa, causing significant loss of life and damage in neighbouring countries like Kenya.