Tanzanian government promises fresh assessment before Selous project

[SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman]Tanzanian government promises fresh assessment before Selous project

Saturday June 30 2018

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/image/view/-/4592782/highRes/1994896/-/maxw/600/-/5e2mbw/-/selous.jpg
An aerial view of Selous Game Reserve. Tanzania’s move risks it being removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger. FILE PHOTO | NMG
In Summary[/FONT][/SIZE]
[ul]
[li][SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman]Government to conduct a strategic environmental assessment prior to the commencement of the project.[/FONT][/SIZE][/li][li][SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman]Dar’s promise came at the eleventh hour just as Unesco was set to rule on whether or not to strike the Selous Game Reserve from the World Heritage sites list.[/FONT][/SIZE][/li][li][SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman]The World Heritage Committee and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) had expressed their concerns about the risks to the reserve posed by the proposed dam.[/FONT][/SIZE][/li][/ul]
[SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman]http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/image/view/-/3978988/medRes/1686504/-/r6pqwc/-/General+Image.jpg By BEATRICE MATERU
[U]More by this Author [/U]
Following international opposition to Tanzania’s plan to construct the 2,100MW Stiegler’s Gorge dam in the Selous Game Reserve, the government has now promised to conduct a strategic environmental assessment prior to the commencement of the project.
Tanzania’s promise came at the eleventh hour just as Unesco was set to rule on whether or not to strike the Selous Game Reserve from the World Heritage sites list.
According to a government statement, Tanzanian officials went to Bahrain, where the World Heritage Committee was convening, to explain the project.

[COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]The World Heritage Committee and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) had expressed their concerns about the risks to the reserve posed by the proposed dam.
“The move represents important progress but it is crucial that the assessment is completed without delay and to the highest international standards and is independently reviewed,” said the WWF referring to the presentation as “a welcome move.”

But, the WWF that also made it clear that it was against any infrastructure project in the World Heritage Site that would damage the site’s ecological value unless a strategic environmental assessment is implemented.
The Fund said in statement on Wednesday; “It must also examine alternative, less harmful energy projects that could instead be pursued and cover the ecoregion in its entirety to secure the future of this wilderness site for generations to come.”

Related Content[/FONT][/SIZE]
[ul]
[li][SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman][U]World Heritage status of Tanzania’s Selous park at risk[/U][/FONT][/SIZE][/li][li][SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman][U]Tanzania opens bids linked to Selous park dam project [/U][/FONT][/SIZE][/li][li][SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman][U]Fatwa culture: Criticise the dam and you land in Tanzanian jail [/U][/FONT][/SIZE][/li][/ul]
[SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman][COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Despite growing opposition to the project, the government is still determined to pursue it and has set aside Tsh700 billion ($306,286,000), which is equivalent to 40 per cent of the Tsh1.69 trillion ($739,461,000) budget for the 2018/19 financial year.
[COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Unesco “has agreed to co-operate with Tanzania in ensuring that this project does not bring environmental harm.”
Richard Lo Giudice, the programme specialist at the World Heritage Centre, had earlier told The EastAfrican that the Stiegler’s George matter would be discussed at the World Heritage Committee’s 42nd session in Manama, Bahrain, taking place from June 24 to July 4.
The heritage committee comprises representatives from 21 states parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.[/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=5][FONT=times new roman]I hope someone will talk sense to mkurupukaji AKA dikteta to stop this non sense with all signs of rampant corruption.[/FONT][/SIZE]

Mkuu huyu Mwizi wala akili yake haipo kwenye kutatua tatizo la umeme kama majinga ya pale Lumumba yanavyoamini…
Hii ni njia ya yeye kupiga hela tu…
Ameshakwapua 1.5Tril sasa kupitia mradi kama huu lazima afanye ufisadi mwingine.

Jiwe mkurupukaji anapaswa kuzomewa na dunia nzima mpaka akili imkae sawa!

Kinachonikera ni kwa nini watu wanapokuwa kwenye nafasi za kiuongozi hudhani wana akili kuliko watanzania wote. Leo hii kina Ghasia na Nnauye ndiyo akili zinawakaa sawa wakati tayari wameshatuharibia nchi hata kama wao hawapo kwenye nafasi za kimaamuzi.

Wazungu wameamua kulinda wanyama na kupuuzia maendeleo ya binadamu wenzao ambao ni sisi.

Pamoja na akili zote alizokupa Mwenyezi Mungu umeishia kufikiri kuwa utaendelea kwa kujenga Stiegler’s gorge!!

Ni kweli alipewa ila sasa sina uhakika kama bado anazo. Tafiti zimeonyesha kuwa usipokitumia kitu eventually huwa kinapotea.

Hivi maendeleo ni lazima yapatikane kwa kuharibu mazingira mazuri yenye history kubwa nchini na dunia nzima!? Ule umeme wa gesi uliopigiwa debe sana na Kikwete na Serikali yake ya awamu ya nne umeishia wapi!? Kwanini dikteta yuko kimya kabisa kuhusu umeme wa gesi ambao Serikali imewekeza trillions za pesa za walipa kodi!? KULIKONI!?

Sidhani kama ni dhambi tukitumia vyote mradi vyote ni vyetu na ni kwa faida yetu.

Na pia kumbuka wazo lilianzia toka awamu ya kwanza; ndio kusema toka awamu ya kwanza watanzania hatujui nini kinatufaa mpaka wazungu waje kutuamulia

Halafu fedha zenyewe ni za mkopo toka Exim Bank ya Uchina!!

Ndugu, hivi wewe uko vile vile kila siku (kwamba hubadiliki kulingana na mazingira yaliyopo kwa wakati huo)? Technology iliyokuwa wakati mradi huo unabuniwa awamu ya kwanza leo ni outdated, bado tu tutumie taarifa za kipindi hicho leo hii? Hivi nyie watu mkoje? Sio lazima uunge mkono kila kitu hata kama basic logic inakuambia otherwise.

Fikiria wale wenzao wa Zanzibar wanafurahia kabisa kuitwa “zombies”.

Hawa Mkuu ndiyo tatizo kubwa hawa wahuni wanaendelea kuivuruga nchi yetu kwa miaka sasa pamoja na utajiri mkubwa wa rasilimali tuliojaliwa na Muumba wetu.

Trillions zilitumika kwenye miradi mbali mbali ya gesi ikiwemo kujenga bomba toka Mtwara hadi Dar ili kusafirishia gesi. Watu wakahamishwa kwa nguvu kutoka maeneo waliyojenga bila fidia na wengine kutiwa vilema hata kuuawa. Leo hii wakati hatujaanza kuona matokeo ya umeme wa gesi huyu naye kaja na mradi wake huku akitaka kuharibu mazingira yenye umuhimu mkubwa sana nchini na duniani na kukata miti zaidi ya milioni 3 na kuathiri ndege na wanyama wengi sana na maeneo ya kilimo.

Pamoja na kupingwa na wengi nchini duniani huyu dikteta mwenye uelewa finyu sana kang’ang’ana ili naye na mafisadi wenzie wapige wizi na ufisadi wao wa trillions chungu nzima.

Inasikitisha sana na kushangaza sana kabla ya mradi wa umeme wa gesi haujakamilika kaamua kuachana nao bila maelezo yoyote yale ya kina pamoja na kuwa trillions za walipa kodi ziliwekezwa miaka michache tu iliyopita na kuzuka na mradi mwingine wa pesa chungu nzima tena za mkopo.

Duniani kote teknolojia ya umeme wa maji imepitwa n a wakati. This was the 1950s ndipo miradi mikubwa mikubwa ya Hydro Electric power ndio ilipigiwa upatu. Saa hizi duniani people are talking in terms of Nuclear plants which is very cheap, clean and economic

Huu ni uongo, Africa nzima Power plant ya nuclear ni moja tu iko south nayo ina contribute 5% ya umeme wote wa south hakuna siku Renewable source zitapitwa na wakati io ni never ever Kwanza ndio kwanza tunaweka efforts kubwa ku harvest energy kwenye izo renewable sources kama Hydro,Wind ,Sun etc Mappromoko ya maji yapo tu io nuclear madini yanaisha ardhini ivo acha kupotosha

Uko vizuri Mkuu na ushahidi wa Kidatu na Mtera kwa Tanzania ni uthibitisho mkubwa wa hilo pia global warming inaendelea kuathiri vyanzo vingi vya maji katika nchi mbali mbali duniani.

Mtera Dam Problems as Seasonal Rains Falter!
3/28/2011 16 Comments

Picture
Reported in ‘The Citizen - Sunday 27th March 2011’

Located along the great Ruaha River between the borders of Iringa and Dodoma regions of Tanzania, Mtera hydro power plant is the largest dam in the country. Its down-stream dam also supplies other hydro plants, Kidatu and Kihansi, and its reservoir is the largest man-made lake in Tanzania. Since its construction was completed in 1988, the giant power plant has been producing 80MW electricity that feeds 14.3% of the nation’s power grid system, and for long has been among the back-bone of the nation’s electricity need. The plant is run by Tanzania National Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), the country’s main power utility firm. However, the year 2011 doesn’t look good in the calendar of Tanesco’s power generation endeavours, as the water flow of Ruaha River, which Mtera hydro power plant depends on, remains insufficient. The flow is very low compared to other years, and with the situation not expected to improve any time soon, there are fears that largest dam in the country could be closed.

According to Julius Chomolla, a principal operations engineer at Tanesco, Mtera dam’s full water supply level is 698.5m, and the minimum is 690m. But as last week, the level was 690.94m, which means the plant had only 0.94 cubic meters left before it reaches the minimum level. He says the two hydro electric plants available at Mtera dam consume a total of 47,000 cubic meters of water per second each. “2011 is going to be the most catastrophic year comparing to others, as we are in March, and the water isn’t still coming in,” says Engineer Chomolla. But the clock is ticking, and we are now at the end of March, heading to April. These are the two months when the experts in the hydro power generation expect to get adequate rain. But on the contrary, so far there hasn’t been any adequate rain in March and the metrological people have already cautioned Tanesco, saying very little rain is expected even in April. “From the trend we have registered between 2005 and 2010, March is usually the pick rain season, and a time we get the maximum average inflow to the dams,” the engineer explains. “But this year, things aren’t good and in 2012 the average rain might even go further down below the minimum supply level.” 2006 was a dry season in Tanzania. That was also the only time when water supply level in the dam had reached 688.78m, and the plant was forced to close down its machines. The same situation seems likely this year if the weather trend continues the same until April. Since rain is not expected in May, June and July, the engineer fears the same hard times of 2006 could be back. Following the continuous power interruptions and rationing of electricity in the country, there has been speculation that siltation could be one of the reasons for the reduced water level in the dam. However, the principal maintenance engineer of the power plant, Stephen Kitt Mpfubusa, says siltation isn’t a problem at all. “The reservoir is quite clear. In fact, the designers who constructed it have indicated it would take a hundred years before siltation could occur and we have still 80 years to go,” he says. “The dam is just a victim of climate change.”

Mr Willie Mwaruvanda, a basin water officer, says the river flow situation is below average due to three consecutive years of drought, which have affected supply in the Great Ruaha, the most used water source in the area, and with a lot of water use conflicts around it. Great and little Ruaha rivers that flow their water into Mtera dam and Kihansi are among those exposed to high usage of water by the villagers living in the area for agriculture and livestock keeping. Water flow is therefore very much affected when there is no rain. “They take their cattle to the water sources, and it is a limited amount of water that has to be used also for electricity generation. But yet the pastoralists and farmers fight for it too,” says Mr Mwaruvanda. He says the villagers have been taking their cattle deep into the dam, and also use the water for fishing too. In addition, some of them are even farming on the shores of the dam, thereby contributing to its siltation. Rice farming is popular in Mtera district, but it is a kind of agriculture that consumes a lot of water. “Investors in the area, especially, use drains to channel water to their farms and those drains consume a lot of water. We now want to ask the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to declare Mtera dam a conserved area so as to protect it,” Mwaruvanda adds. Mr George Samuel, the Director of Mbarali District, where most of the water sources of Great Ruaha river are allocated, has also confirmed that the number of pastoralists around Ruaha River have kept on increasing from time to time, and the impact is paralysing the Mtera ecosystem, with the result that there soon won’t be enough water left at the dam for power generation. Due to the pressure on the river and the impact felt in 2006, there has been an effort by the government to relocate the pastoralists to other areas, including some parts of Mbeya, Iringa, Lindi, Rukwa, Ruvuma and Coast regions. However, so far these efforts have not been very effective as the pastoralists kept on coming back to the Great Ruaha areas, either by through connivance or corruption.

“There were reports about underground efforts by some politicians who encouraged the pastoralists to come back during the elections to vote for them. There were also cases of pastoralists bribing local leaders to allow them feed their cattle there,” says Mr Samuel. He says some pastoralists had even managed to force their way into Ihefu conserved area from time to time, despite ongoing legal action been taken against them by the authorities. “Last year eleven pastoralists forced their way into the area, and we opened a case against them, which is still pending in court,” he noted. However, the district Director dismisses the fear of water shortage in Ruaha River, and even Mtera hydro power plant. “We already have formed a team to work on the issue; why should there be no water at the hydro plant, while there is water at the main source?” Mr. Samuel queried. But according to Mwaruvanda, the fear of water shortage at the power plant is not far-fetched. He says one of the tributaries supplying Mtera from the Rufiji Basin was once blocked, apparently due to encroachment of the ecosystem, and they had to go ahead and unblocked it. So a repeat of a similar situation cannot be ruled out, hence the need to step up conservation efforts along the river catchment areas.
“We are trying to involve the people of this area in conserving the water, and so far we are getting high participation at the source areas like Kilombero, Rufiji and Ruwegu,” Mwaruvanda noted. Meanwhile, the Mtera hydro power plant is currently operating under an emergency plan. The plant can only produce 52MW of electricity, given the amount of water that is remaining there. The current output is 28MW less than its full capacity, and there is no likelihood of the water inflow increasing any soon. By this time last year, the average water level had been reached, but this time there is no such hope.

Siongopi, takwimu zipo clear! Hujafikiria kuhusu athari za global warming,hujafikiria issues za enviromental degradation associated with HEP projects hujafikiria athari kwenye kilimo n.k, Anyway Nimezungumzia kuhusu Dunian kote not Africa alone ,. If you people in Africa want to fall behind and remain backward, it is up to you