Tanzania power link to ease energy crisis

These are intended to boost power supply in the region where it is estimated that the average access to power stands at less than 15 per cent.

NBI projects that one in four residents of Sub-Saharan African has access to power and only 10 per cent of the hydropower in the region is developed despite the presence of huge potential.

In addition to increasing hydropower generation, the region can help meet its energy needs by creating institutional structures to support increased power trade.

The 10th anniversary of NBI was marked with a series of events that included a conference that was officially opened by Tanzania vice president Ali Mohamed Shein.

Workshop on energy

Besides the workshop on energy, several forums were held to discuss irrigation and management of River Nile.

Mr David Molden of the International Water Management Institute challenged farmers in the Nile Basin countries to look beyond irrigation and focus on prudent use of ground water and rainwater harvesting among other sources.

“While irrigation is critical, Nile Basin farmers must also make the best use of other sources,” Mr Molden said.

It is estimated that 85 per cent of the region’s poor people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture, which makes improvement of agricultural activity critical.

Among methods identified for boosting productivity were effective use of water, and expanding agricultural trade including associated infrastructure investments.

NBI estimates that only five per cent of the land in the Nile Basin is under irrigation.

The Regional Agricultural Trade and Productivity project is planned to not only boost productive use of water in agriculture, but also promote agricultural trade including incorporating trade issues into strategic water resources planning and management.

Irrigation and drainage projects are ongoing in Egypt and Ethiopia in a bid to improve agricultural productivity and efficient water use.