Dr. Assem El Gazzar – Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities inspected Julius Nyerere Dam and Hydropower Plant (capacity of 2115 MW) on Rufiji River in Tanzania.
He was accompanied by Major Gen. Mahmoud Nassar –Head of the Central Authority for Development, Eng. Sayed Farouk – CEO and President of the Arab Contractors Company, Eng. Ahmed Elsewedy – Chairman of Elsewedy Electric Company, Eng. Ahmed El Assar - Senior Vice Chairman of the Arab Contractors Company, Eng. Usama Moustafa – AC Board Member and officials from the AC and Elsewedy Electric.
Dr. Assem El Gazar emphasized that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is following up the project. He declared that this visit to ensure the implementation rates of the different works on the project within the framework of the distinguished relation between the two countries and Egypt’s concern with the African affairs and the implementation of this important project for the Tanzanian people due to the role of the dam and hydropower plant in providing electricity to Tanzania and push the development rates in it.
The Minister of Housing praised the implementation level of the project since its beginning in December 2018 and the continuous cooperation between the Egyptian and Tanzanian side to solve any obstacles that may faces the execution. He declared that the project is carrying out by the Egyptian JV of the Arab Contractors Company and Elsewedy Electric Company with a cost reached 2.9 million US$.
The Minister held a meeting to explore the executed works in the project till now. He toured the projects with his companions to follow the ongoing works in the main dam, a diversion tunnel for water which is accomplished completely and it is expected that the river path within this month. Then, he move ahead to the water intake where there are 3 tunnels to transfer water from the tanks to turbines, as well as the power generation plant which includes 9 turbines. They inspected the rock excavation and detonation work in the plant which reached 2million m3, in addition to the concrete and shoring works.
Major Gen. Mahmoud Nassar –Head of the Central Authority for Development said that the project is aiming at controlling the flood of the Rufiji River, power generation, and preserving the environment. The project’s scope of work is the construction of a dam on Rufiji River with total length 1025m at crest level and 131m dam level and storage capacity 34 billion m3; a hydropower plant with a capacity of 2115mw in the Morogoro on Rufiji River southwest of Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital and largest city of Tanzania. The hydropower plant will be the largest in Tanzania, with a generation rate of 6307 MW / hour yearly. The plant will also include a 400 KV switch yard to a substation that the generated electricity will be merged with the general electricity network.
He added that the project includes saddle dams for reservoir impounding of water, 2 temporary dams in front of the main dam and behind it for drying and diversion process during the construction of the main dam. In addition to spillway on the center of the main dam, an emergency spillway, a tunnel 660m length for water diversion, 3 tunnels to transfer the required water for the electricity station, a permanent concrete bridge and 2 temporary bridges on Rufiji River. Besides, the construction of temporary and permanent roads to serve the project, facilitate movement and linking the project components.