Tanzania shrugs off concerns and signs $3bn hydroelectric deal in world heritage site
President inks contract with Egyptian companies for a power plant in Selous Game Reserve, which will double the country’s power generation capacity
Tanzania will build a $3bn hydroelectric plant in a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation world heritage site under a contract announced on Wednesday involving Egyptian companies despite concerns raised about the impact on wildlife. Tanzanian President John Magufuli, nicknamed “the bulldozer” for his forceful leadership style, has pushed for the project to start despite concerns raised about the impact on the Selous Game Reserve. Known for its elephants, black rhinos and giraffes, the reserve covers 50,000km² and is one of the largest protected areas in Africa, according to the UN body. The planned hydropower dam “puts protected areas of global importance, as well as the livelihoods of over 200,000 people who depend upon the environment, at risk”, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) conservation group said in a report in July 2017. Officials at the WWF Tanzania office were not immediately available to comment on Wednesday. Tanzania announced it had signed deals w...
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