Tanzania seeks AfDB’s support for the construction of Stiegler George hydro plant. The request was addressed to Akinwumi Adesina, the bank’s chairman, by the Tanzanian president John Magufuli during a work session last weekend.

“President Magufuli is very committed to ensure that the country becomes industrialized, but you cannot get industrialized unless you have access to electricity… we are going to be looking at that with him and the government, but we are also very keen to look at other alternative sources of energy,” Mr. Adesina commented after the talks.

The facility (2, 100 MW) will be built in Selous Game Reserve. With this reserve being one of the largest protected parks in Africa, according to UNESCO, environmentalists are already raising concerns about that project.

Gwladys Johnson Akinocho