"Electricity Production is Too Much": African Country Shuts Down 5 Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
- Authorities in Tanzania have shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid
- This is as many African countries, including Nigeria, are struggling to generate enough power for their citizens
- According to reports, the Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station produced sufficient electricity to supply major cities
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Legit.ng journalist Victor Enengedi has over a decade's experience covering Energy, MSMEs, Technology and the stock market.
Tanzanian authorities have closed down five hydroelectric stations to alleviate surplus electricity in the national grid.
This information was made known by the country’s Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, Daily Trust reports.
Source: UGC
According to Majaliwa, the primary facility, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, produced sufficient electricity to supply major cities such as Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
This marks the first instance of Tanzania shutting down hydroelectric stations due to overproduction, a significant move for a country plagued by chronic power shortages.
An official from the state-run power company, Tanesco, said:
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now.”
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is reportedly nearing full capacity due to heavy rains that began earlier this year.
Nigeria struggles to generate enough power
In contrast, despite having an installed capacity of 1,938MW and a grid capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria faces challenges in providing electricity to 85% of its consumers, despite its installed capacity of 13,000MW.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently announced an increment in the electricity tariff for Band A consumers, raising it from the existing N66 per kilowatt hour to N225, marking a substantial 240% surge.
Customers categorised under Band A represent 15% of the country's total 12 million electricity consumers will now enjoy 20 to 24 hours of electricity supply daily.
However, the recent increase in electricity tariff has sparked criticism from various quarters.
Reacting to the news, Wale Ogundeji, an energy analyst, told Legit.ng that Nigeria's electricity supply situation is a tangled web of challenges, from inadequate infrastructure to financial constraints and corruption.
He said:
"Nigeria struggles with an unreliable grid plagued by frequent blackouts, hindering economic growth and everyday life. Decades of mismanagement and underinvestment have compounded the issue, while population growth exacerbates demand.
"Additionally, theft and illegal connections drain resources, worsening the situation. Addressing these complexities requires substantial investment, regulatory reforms, and a shift towards renewable energy sources."
He added that without decisive action, Nigeria's electricity woes will continue to impede progress and development."
Band A Electricity Consumers to Pay N337m
In related news, Legit.ng reported that 1.5 million electricity consumers categorised under Band A will have to cough out a huge amount of money as bill.
This information is based on findings derived from an updated electricity tariff structure analysis.
A deeper analysis by Legit.ng showed that the revenue generation for DisCos can be calculated by multiplying the tariff rate of N225 per kilowatt hour by the 1.5 million electricity consumers.
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Source: Legit.ng
