Stiegler's Gorge: The true cost of power

[Kibanga Ampiga Mkoloni]

Source: https://mobil.wwf.de/fileadmin/fm-wwf/Publikationen-PDF/WWF-Report-Selous-True-Cost-Of-Power.pdf

THE FACTS AND RISKS OF BUILDING STIEGLER’S GORGE HYDROPOWER DAM IN SELOUS GAME RESERVE, TANZANIA

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The two reports were independently written by Barnaby Dye and Joerg Hartmann


Conclusions:

Summarizing these impacts, in the view of the author there are two areas of high risks that are large scale; difficult, if not impossible to manage; difficult to understand on the basis of current information; and would need particularly careful consideration:

 Inundation of terrestrial habitats by the 1,200 km2 large reservoir; and
 A series of downstream changes, starting with reductions in the seasonal variability of flows and in their sediment load, leading to changes in geomorphology, reductions in aquatic biodiversity and abundance, and finally reductions in ecosystem services for downstream inhabitants.

These risks are similar to those highlighted by Odebrecht themselves in 2013:
 “Relation among reservoir size and the inundated area;
 Impacts of associated infrastructure;
 The large contingent of workers necessary;
 Potential impacts of the project in sediment transport and, consequently, on river morphology; and
 Aspects related to water quality”.

This author has fewer concerns regarding: temporary risks associated with the construction site (in case Odebrecht, a company with a good track record, manages the site), water quality risks (owing to the large flow and low population density upstream), and risks of associated infrastructure (as access roads and transmission lines, once built and as long as access to the reserve is controlled, will have relatively small footprints). The qualification of some risks as ‘low’ and ‘medium’ in this screening exercise, assumes appropriate management measures.

However, the remaining two risks are very significant. It is unprecedented to risk losing the integrity of not one, but two globally significant protected areas to a hydropower project. Because of reputational risks, it is inconceivable that finance could be raised from investors and lenders following multilateral bank safeguards and IFC Performance Standards/Equator Principles, unless perhaps with massive mitigation and compensation programs designed specifically to maintain the Selous’ OUV. Out of 1,052 World Heritage sites, only two have ever been delisted after losing their Outstanding Universal Value, the Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany (because of a bridge) and the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman (because of poaching, oil exploration and a 90% reduction in size).

In addition, there are some risks of cumulative impacts with other industrial land uses in the Selous, such as mining. While the Mkuju uranium mine is at a distance of approximately 300 km, at the southern end of the Selous, 34 mining concessions that overlap the Selous have been granted and a further 14 concessions have been applied for.

There is active oil exploration in one overlapping concession where a sedimentary basin of interest overlaps with the Selous. The vast majority of these lie upstream of Stiegler’s Gorge. In general, there is practically no publicly available information on planned exploration or exploitation, and its impacts. Cumulative impacts could be through water contamination, for example (the Mkuju mine is in the Luwegu sub-basin, upstream of Stiegler’s Gorge), through direct impacts on land, and through indirect impacts of opening access by illegal resource users.

Further use of water resources upstream of the Selous, principally through irrigation and hydropower development, could also lead to cumulative impacts. There is no tradition in Tanzania of considering largescale cumulative impacts in project planning and permitting. The 2013 Arms on Environment report suggests Terms of Reference (ToR) for a cumulative impact assessment, as well as for an environmental impact assessment, and an environmental management plan.

These ToR show no awareness that the role of EIAs should be to critically assess siting, design, and operation alternatives of a project. They do not mention a series of risks identified in this screening exercise, such as reductions in tourism or downstream geomorphological changes, or opportunities such as biodiversity offsets. If these ToR have been used to guide further studies after 2013, there would be little confidence in their results. For all risks identified here, thorough baseline studies and impact prediction - including in a number of cases, quantitative modelling - would be required.

According to a 2013 Odebrecht presentation, it would be the role of RUBADA – presumably as the Tanzanian partner in a developers’ consortium - to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment and secure the approval of all environmental licenses. While Odebrecht has relevant experience, RUBADA has none, suggesting that they could not effectively quality control the EIA.

It is surprising that Odebrecht, although an experienced international developer with an awareness of environmental and social issues and the associated risks to a project, would rely solely on Tanzanian consulting firms and government agencies with little experience and conflicting interests to handle this side of the project. It is also surprising that the Tanzanian government would put at risk protected areas of this quality, when there are multiple other power supply options, including other hydropower sites, with similar costs and lower risks.

IUCN, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and the Ramsar Convention Secretariat have an opportunity to assist the Tanzanian government in taking better care of these exceptional sites, and basing strategic energy development decisions on better information. The IUCN/UNESCO mission should encourage government to share the currently available information, in order to allow additional expert input, to open up a dialogue with the Ramsar secretariat, and to consider alternatives to Stiegler’s Gorge.


References
Rufiji-Mafia-Kilwa Marine Ramsar Site | Ramsar Sites Information Service Selous Game Reserve AQUASTAT - FAO's Information System on Water and Agriculture Website of Dr. Rolf D. Baldus

 

[King Kong III]

Daaaa White Elephant Project.

 

[kabombe]

wazungu bana!
Mbona wamarekani wamejitoa kwenye mkataba wa udhibiti uchafuzi wa mazingira,ili waendelee kuharibu dunia kwa maslahi ya marekani hawafuatiliwi tunafuatiliwa watanzania
Huu mradi unaogopwa sana kwa sababu utatuondoa kabisa katika matatizo ya umeme walau kwa miaka 50 ijayo

 

[JUAN MANUEL]

MTU mweupe hana jema kabisa kuhusu Africa,
Sudani wameigawanya Mara mbili,cameron,IPO vipande viwili wanaozungumza kifaransa(Franco phone)na wanaozungumza English(Anglo phone),Libya wameivuruga kabisa,walitaka hata Syria ifate mkondo ule ule,shukrani kwa Warusi,wakazuhia hii,richa ya kwamba na wao ni majizi tu,
Ukitaka Wa magharibi wakuelewe inabidi uwe na akili kama za North Korea,Vietnam,ukijipendekeza kwao wanakuaribu kabisa,hawajari kabisa,hata wazungu wwnzao wa Greece,wanawaperekesha na masharti kibao ya kuinua uchumi,
Nikiona mzungu anaona uchungu kwa jambo linalofanyika Africa,hayo huwa ni machozi ya mamba tu,na unafiki mtupu,kama wanatuonea huruma,walete viwanda vyao huku vya magari,vya umeme,na tekinolojia watupe bile,

 

[Ileje]

Wewe kama Zito Kabwe, Nape ni ma-snitch tu!

Povu! povu! povu!!!

 

[Econometrician]

wazungu bana!
Mbona wamarekani wamejitoa kwenye mkataba wa udhibiti uchafuzi wa mazingira,ili waendelee kuharibu dunia kwa maslahi ya marekani hawafuatiliwi tunafuatiliwa watanzania
Huu mradi unaogopwa sana kwa sababu utatuondoa kabisa katika matatizo ya umeme walau kwa miaka 50 ijayo

Acha kuwaonea wazungu! hata huo mradi mnao taka kufanya kuanzia technolojia,maarifa,mitambo mpaka uendeshaji kwa 98% unawategemea hao wazungu,insu kubwa hapa ni kwa nini serikali ya CCM inharibu fedha nyingi kwa miradi ambayo haina vichwa wala miguu.

 

[mtima nyongo]

MTU mweupe hana jema kabisa kuhusu Africa,
Sudani wameigawanya Mara mbili,cameron,IPO vipande viwili wanaozungumza kifaransa(Franco phone)na wanaozungumza English(Anglo phone),Libya wameivuruga kabisa,walitaka hata Syria ifate mkondo ule ule,shukrani kwa Warusi,wakazuhia hii,richa ya kwamba na wao ni majizi tu,
Ukitaka Wa magharibi wakuelewe inabidi uwe na akili kama za North Korea,Vietnam,ukijipendekeza kwao wanakuaribu kabisa,hawajari kabisa,hata wazungu wwnzao wa Greece,wanawaperekesha na masharti kibao ya kuinua uchumi,
Nikiona mzungu anaona uchungu kwa jambo linalofanyika Africa,hayo huwa ni machozi ya mamba tu,na unafiki mtupu,kama wanatuonea huruma,walete viwanda vyao huku vya magari,vya umeme,na tekinolojia watupe bile,

Na nyie mkome kuwalilia shida kila uchwao.

 

[kabombe]

acha kuwaonea wazungu! hata huo mradi mnao taka kufanya kuanzia technolojia,maarifa,mitambo mpaka uendeshaji kwa 98% unawategemea hao wazungu,insu kubwa hapa ni kwa nini serikali ya CCM inharibu fedha nyingi kwa miradi ambayo haina vichwa wala miguu.

We kweli hamnazo,stieglers gorge hauna kichwa wala miguu?

 

[Mlangaja]

Hakuna Cha maana kilichoandikwa. Huyu alieandika hamnazo kichwani kabisa. Naomba serikali iendelee na mradi huu. Sasa ninaelewa kwamba Kuna watu wanapenda na wanafurahi umeme unavyokatika katika nchi yetu. Tunapoishi katika shida wapo watu wanasherekea sana.

 

[kigogo warioba]

Miti ya selous itakatwa ukubwa wa mkoa wa dar.!?

 

[gomer]

!...
Mwenye prons na cons ya lile dam la Zim lilotarajia kuondoa tatizo la power kwa hizi nchi zetu .!
...

 

[GwaB]

Wewe kama Zito Kabwe, Nape ni ma-snitch tu!

Kuna mmama mmoja huko twitter nae anaimbisha wimbo huu huu kwa bidii sana.

 

[Stroke]

Nimeambulia porojo tu hamna lolote la maana kwenye hiyo article

 

[Yonni Jr]

Mradi wa sglas Goerge utatuepusha na wezi wanaoinyonya Tanesco 400m na 200 m kila sku...i.e IPTL..SYMBION and Co ambao ndio wanatumia nguvu kubwa kuwalipa wanasiasa na member wengne huku ili kuupga vta hu mradi...USA mwenyewe hayo mambo ya kijinga ya mazngra alishajtoa...na Ata Ethiopia mradi wao mkubwa wa bwawa la umeme walitumia ela zao za ndan baada ha wazungu ambao ndio wenye haya makampun ya kuuza umeme kwa bei kubwa kuwachongea kwa nchi zao na mashrka makubwa wakanymwa pesa...katika eneo ambalo namuunga mkono JPM kwa 100% ni kwenye mradi huu wa stglas Gorge mradi alianzsha Nyerere ila kuanzia awamu ya pili walioingia wizara ya Nishati wakaleta IPTL wakauzka huu mrad kwa vsngzio vya kijinga na wakaanza kuinyonya Tanesco toka 1990's adi leo...nchi hii ina mapori mengi icho kieneo kinachoguswa selous ata akikarbii robo ya selous (Hiyo World heritage ilishasaidiaga nini mwananchi wa kawaida zaidi ya ukolon mamno leo)na wengi wanaopga kelele ata selous hawaijui..wakiwemo wanasiasa na wanaoshnda huku kupnga mradi..ila wanamezeshwa madessa fake na makampuni yanayouzia Tanesco umeme wa mafuta mazito kama SYMBION...IPTL ..n co ambao wanajua stiglas gorge ndio mwsho wa unyonyaji wao...mtu analipwa 400m kwa kuweka jenereta Tegeta na ubungo ata kama ajazalisha umeme huo ni upuuzi

 

[Dr Akili]

World Heritage sites, only two have ever been delisted after losing their Outstanding Universal Value

Hapo kale ulaya yote na amerika yote ilikuwa zaidi ya Selous yetu in terms of natural flora, fauna and so forth. Wakaiharibu yote kwa kujenga viwanda na miji mizuri tunayowaonea wivu. Halafu wakaja kwetu kutuzuia sisi tusifanye yale waliyofanya kwao. Eti maeneo yetu yakawa protected areas ya urithi wa dunia!! Eti Selous imerithiwa na dunia! Ujinga mtupu. Kama Selous inaweza kutupatia umeme wa MW 5,000 lazima tutaitumia kufanya hivyo. Kama tutagundua ina mabillioni ya mafuta (gasoline) tutayachimba. Hata huko Ngorongoro Crater tukijua kuna gasoline kibao tutaichimba ili na sisi tuwe nchi tajiri duniani. Haya ma game reserves tumekuwa nayo miaka nenda miaka rudi hayajatusaidia cho chote kuondokana na umasikini wetu.

 

[Kibanga Ampiga Mkoloni]

Hapo kale ulaya yote na amerika yote ilikuwa zaidi ya Selous yetu in terms of natural flora, fauna and so forth. Wakaiharibu yote kwa kujenga viwanda na miji mizuri tunayowaonea wivu. Halafu wakaja kwetu kutuzuia sisi tusifanye yale waliyofanya kwao. Eti maeneo yetu yakawa protected areas ya urithi wa dunia!! Eti Selous imerithiwa na dunia! Ujinga mtupu. Kama Selous inaweza kutupatia umeme wa MW 5,000 lazima tutaitumia kufanya hivyo. Kama tutagundua ina mabillioni ya mafuta (gasoline) tutayachimba. Hata huko Ngorongoro Crater tukijua kuna gasoline kibao tutaichimba ili na sisi tuwe nchi tajiri duniani. Haya ma game reserves tumekuwa nayo miaka nenda miaka rudi hayajatusaidia cho chote kuondokana na umasikini wetu.

Naunga mkono hoja. ni wakati tupunguze hifadhi na rserves wakulima na wafugaji apate maeneo.

unaonaje hilo ?
ulifuatilia bunge wiki iliopita wizara ya maliasili ?

 

[Dr Akili]

Naunga mkono hoja. ni wakati tupunguze hifadhi na rserves wakulima na wafugaji apate maeneo.

unaonaje hilo ?
ulifuatilia bunge wiki iliopita wizara ya maliasili ?

Hawa wazungu tukiendelea kuwachekea tutajikuta Tanzania yote imewekwa kwenye urithi wa dunia nakutufanya tusiweze kujenga hata hivyo viwanda tunavyokusudia kwa sababu tutakuwa tunaharibu flora and fauna ya urithi wa dunia!

Hizo game reserves and parks tuliwekewa na wazungu hao zaidi ya miaka 50 iliyopita. Wakati huo Tanzania ikikuwa na watu wasiozidi millioni 10 na ng'ombe zisizozidi million moja. Watu na mifugo yao wakatengewa asilimia 20% ya eneo la ardhi ya Tanzania. Asilimia 80% iliyobaki ikatengwa kwa ajili ya wanyamapori, fauna na flora kama hifadhi ya taifa na urithi wa dunia. Sasa hivi watanzania wako million 55 na mifugo yao ni takribani million 30. Hilo eneo la 20% haliwatoshi tena na ni busara likaongezwa kwa kupunguza hiyo hifadhi. Wabunge walilalamikia hatua kali za kisheria zinazochukuliwa dhidi ya mifugo inayokanyaga ardhi ya hifadhi. Cha kushangaza hiyo adhabu kali ilitungwa na bunge hilo hilo linaloilalamikia hiyo adhabu. Linachotakiwankufanya ni kutatua chanzo cha tatizo (hiyo 20:80 distribution)!

 

[Allineando]

Hydro power zimepitwa na wakati.. Jiwe anayake tuu nyuma pazia

 

[shungurui]

Hapo kale ulaya yote na amerika yote ilikuwa zaidi ya Selous yetu in terms of natural flora, fauna and so forth. Wakaiharibu yote kwa kujenga viwanda na miji mizuri tunayowaonea wivu. Halafu wakaja kwetu kutuzuia sisi tusifanye yale waliyofanya kwao. Eti maeneo yetu yakawa protected areas ya urithi wa dunia!! Eti Selous imerithiwa na dunia! Ujinga mtupu. Kama Selous inaweza kutupatia umeme wa MW 5,000 lazima tutaitumia kufanya hivyo. Kama tutagundua ina mabillioni ya mafuta (gasoline) tutayachimba. Hata huko Ngorongoro Crater tukijua kuna gasoline kibao tutaichimba ili na sisi tuwe nchi tajiri duniani. Haya ma game reserves tumekuwa nayo miaka nenda miaka rudi hayajatusaidia cho chote kuondokana na umasikini wetu.

Ndugu kweli unawaamini ccm, mtwara mpaka waliua wananchi kule, lakini leo wanakuja na different story.

 

[lautanyi]

acha kuwaonea wazungu! hata huo mradi mnao taka kufanya kuanzia technolojia,maarifa,mitambo mpaka uendeshaji kwa 98% unawategemea hao wazungu,insu kubwa hapa ni kwa nini serikali ya CCM inharibu fedha nyingi kwa miradi ambayo haina vichwa wala miguu.

MRADI WA KUTUPATIA UMEME WA MW 2000 WA BEI NAFUU UNASEMA HAUNA KICHWA WALA MIGUU? WENYE KICHWA NI HUO WA GESI UNATUUZIA KWA GHARAMA YA SENT 50 ZA DOLA KWA UNIT MJA NA SERIKALI KUGHARAMIA SENT 150 ILI ANGALAO TUUZIWE UMEME WANANCHI KWA SENT 350 KWA UNIT MOJA? HIYO RESERVE RISK YA KUTOPATA WATALII NI KUBWA TU ILA TUKISHAJENGA BWAWA TUNAENDELEA KUPATA UMEME. KIDATU UNAELEWA ILIJENGWA LINI? TUNAHITAJI UMEME WA KUTOSHA WA BEI NAFUU KWA SASA TUWEZE KUENDELEA