Tanzania has taken the surprising step of shutting down five hydroelectric stations in an effort to manage an oversupply of electricity in the national grid, according to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.
The move comes despite Tanzania’s history of chronic power shortages.
However, the country’s main power plant, the Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, is reportedly generating enough electricity on its own to power major cities like Dar es Salaam.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much,” said an official from the state-run power company, Tanesco.
Heavy rains that began earlier this year are credited with filling the 2,115 MW Julius Nyerere dam to near capacity. These same rains, unfortunately, have caused a devastating weather event across East Africa, leading to at least 58 deaths in Tanzania alone.
This marks the first time Tanzania has ever had to shut down hydroelectric plants due to excess production, highlighting the significant impact of the recent weather patterns.
