Business opportunities brought by Stiegler’s Gorge project to be laid out

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) in collaboration with an Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) and National Economic Empowerment Council (Neec) have organized a seminar that will unveil the available business opportunities during and after the construction of Rufiji Hydro power Project.

The conference will take place in Dar es Salaam on 11th June 2019, according to executive director of TPSF Mr Godfrey Simbeye.

Mr Simbeye told a news conference on Friday, May 24 that the seminar will invite the contractor of the facility and the project implementing unit under Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco) who will share their plans on local content benefits.

“We call for all service company providers and other business people who are interested to participate in the value chain of the project to come for the seminar. They include engineering companies, consultant entities, food and water suppliers, insurance companies and other construction related dealers,” he said.

He said that those who wish to attend the conference will have to register with TPSF through its website.

According to him, during the meeting the Arab constructor Company (the contractor) will express the total amount set for local content, pointing out the construction materials that will be sourced from local suppliers and the number of people to be employed.

The meeting, according to him, will also establish and formalize relationship with key decision makers in other sector, set out localization plans and collaboratively formulate a strategy for supply chain development to meet local content goals.

On her part, the executive secretary of Neec Ms Beng’i Issa said that only companies and individuals who are registered by Ewura or through a Prime Minister Office’s corridor will be qualified to be engaged in the project.

“So far there are no more than 350 companies registered at Ewura for taking tenders of providing various services to mega development projects, but the number is too low,” she said.

She insisted more companies and individuals to continue registering with Ewura and PMO office.

The agreement to build the Rufiji Hydro-power project much known as Stiegler's Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station was signed on  December  12, 2018 by Tanesco on behalf of the ministry of energy.

The $2.9 billion project is located on Rufiji River, in the Selous Game Reserve in southwestern Tanzania.

It is expected to be finalized in 42 months from the contact signing with capacity to produce 2, 115MW, including a 400KV substation and transmission line integrated into national electricity grid.