- This month Tanzania officially started filling the 2.1 GW Julius Nyerere hydroelectric power plant on the Rufiji river in Stiegler’s Gorge in Morogoro Region.
- The appointed construction contractors are a joint venture between Egyptian contractor, Elsewedy Electric and the Arab Contractors Company.
- Construction started on the US$ 2.9 billion project in 2019 and full commissioning is expected in 2024.
Project Details and Scope of Works
- Employer: Tanzanian Ministry of Energy
- Contractors: JV Arab Contractors Company and Elsewedy Electric
- Project location: Stigler’s Gorge Area, the dam is located in the Morogoro area on Rufiji River – Tanzania
- Completion Period: 62 months including 6 months mobilization
Project Objective
Generating electricity with capacity of 2115MW to satisfy energy needs in Tanzania
Scope of Work
- Main dam for storage of water to generate hydropower using RCC concrete for main dam with total length 1025m at crest level and 130m dam level.
- Construction of 4 saddle dams for reservoir impounding of water with length of 1.4km, 7.9km, 4.6km and 2.6km with a maximum height 21.3m, 14m, 12.4m and 5.5m respectively, with a capacity to impound approximately 33 billion m3 of water.
- Construction of a hydropower plant with a capacity of 2115mw and a substation of 400kv; in addition to 400kv transmission lines to the nearest point of the public network.
Civil works
- Permanent access roads connecting the site with the existing roads network and length about 21km.
- Temporary access roads that connect all permanent facilities with length of 59km
- Main dam of RCC on Rufiji River Power plant with administration building, control building, workshops and stores.
- Connecting power station 400kv including transmission lines 4 variable height and length dams for water impounding of reservoir Diversion tunnel 660m length (15*17m) and 2 cofferdams.
- The main spillway is located on the center of the main dam with 7 radial gates and an emergency spillway is located in the first saddle.
- Permanent concrete bridge on Rufiji River.
- Integrated residential complex on an area of 19000m including housing and playground, permanent furnished offices; in addition to temporary residential complex, utilities, lighting, drinking water and water treatment.
Main electromechanical works for power house
- Power plant 2115 -9 vertical Francis turbines, each turbine capacity is 235mw
- 9 butterfly valves for entrance
- 9 vertical axis generators
- Water and sewage cooling systems
- Ventilation, air-conditioning, firefighting and communication systems
- Protection, control and monitoring equipment
- 3 diesel generators for the power plant, dam and spillway
Massive impact
Upon completion, with a total electricity generation capacity of 2,115 megawatts, the project is expected to cut power tariffs which will lead to the reduction of the cost of living for Tanzanians as well as the production cost in industries. The bulk of Tanzania’s current installed capacity sits at around 1600 MW which is largely composed of hydro 566.79 MW (42%), natural gas 607 MW (45%) and liquid fuel 173.40 MW (13%).
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
