Tanzania Inaugurates Construction Of $2.9 Billion Mega Hydroelectric Dam

President John Magufuli of Tanzania on July 26, 2019 inaugurated construction of a gigantic hydroelectric dam called Stiegler's Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station (SGHPS), reported some media same day.

The inauguration was just a formality because the dam is already under construction with 15% said to be completed. The construction began after the government of Tanzania handed over the project site to the contractor, Arab Contractors of Egypt, in February 2019.

Stiegler's Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station is located on Rufiji River in Selous Game Reserve in southeast of Tanzania. It will cost $2.9 billion to build, and when completed in three year time, will have the capacity for generating 2115 megawatts of electricity.

Contrary to some criticisms pertaining to wildlife protection from some quarters, reported environment impact assessment data for SGHPS, show the project is a very sustainable indeed. It strikes an excellent balance between needs for human beings and those for wildlife. It is being totally naive talking about the needs for wildlife while ignoring those for human beings. Natural assets like rivers must also cater for human needs. SGHPS project could, therefore, be said to be one of Tanzania's great endeavors geared towards exploiting its vast wealth of natural assets to generate means for development, also known as capital assets, while simultaneously ensuring protection of the natural habitat.

All developed countries used natural assets of their own, or/and from other nations to generate capital assets in order to reach where they are right now economically. Tanzania and other African countries with their abundant natural assets can also attain developed economies status very quickly if they also do that. In fact, there is no other way!

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