The tendering process of the Rufiji Hydro power in Tanzania is now open to the public; this is according to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM).
The hydro power project
The hydro power project at Stiegler’s Gorge will see the construction of the largest dam in Tanzania along the Rufiji River in the Selous Game Reserve. It will also have an installed capacity of at least 2,100MW with a minimum guaranteed annual firm energy of 5,920 GWh.
The mega project will moreover comprise of construction of the main dam and appurtenant structures with the expected total reservoir storage capacity of 34,000 million cubic.
The height of the dam will be about 134 metres. Further to that, the reservoir length in estimate will be 100 kilometres covering an area of about 1,350 square kilometres.
In addition to the main dam, there will be saddle dams and cofferdams. The will also be the construction of power houses to generate a capacity of 2,100 MW and a 400kV switchyard.
The tendering process
The International Competitive Bidding (ICB) will conduct the process. This is in accordance with the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act, 2016 and the Public Procurement (Goods, Works, Non-Consultants Services and Disposal of Public Assets by Tender) Regulations, 2013.
“The deadline for submission of bids is at 10:00 hours East African Time on October 16, 2017,” read a statement by MEM.
Both private and public or semi-public companies are invited to apply for the tender but only if they can establish that they are legally, autonomous and operate under commercial law.
Bidders should have minimum average annual construction turnover of US$ 500m. It should be calculated as certified payments received for contracts in progress and or completed within the last five years.
Environmental concerns
The dam is planned for the heart of the Selous, a game reserve the size of Switzerland. The reserve is home to a huge variety of species including elephants, cheetahs, giraffes and crocodiles. The reserve is a world heritage site. It was listed as “in danger” by Unesco a couple of years ago when there were catastrophic falls in animal numbers after heavy poaching.
There were major concerns from environmentalist on the impact the project will have on the world heritage site but the President Mr. John Maghufuli came out and announced that the project will go ahead as planned
Completion of the Rufiji Hydro power project will be in three years time.