President Samia, El-Sisi allay fear on Tanzania’s 2,115MW hydropower project
SHARM EL SHEIKH (Egypt), Nov 10 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi have jointly reaffirmed that the quality of construction of the 2,115-megawatt Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant Project (JNHPP) would not be compromised.
The reaffirmation, on the other side, allays fear raised by a section of Members of Parliament who are currently deliberating on the guidelines for the preparation of the government budget for the 2023/24 financial year in Dodoma.
In three consecutive days, a section of MPs who have contributed to the plan questioned the deadline and extra cost that may be incurred due to the extension of the project deadline.
However, a press statement issued by the State House after the duo held a meeting in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on Wednesday, insisted that the “quality” of the project will not be compromised “even for the sake of meeting project completion deadlines.”
On the sideline of COP27 taking place in Egypt’s resort town, the two Presidents discussed the status of the ongoing construction of the mega-power project in Tanzania which is being executed by Egypt company, Arab Contractors.
The two leaders, the statement said, have been satisfied with the progress of the project, which is 77 percent complete.
“President Samia informed her counterpart that Tanzania was making preparations to fill the reservoir of the giant dam with water. On his part, President El-Sisi promised to send a strong delegation to witness the milestone,” the statement added.
The Tanzanian and Egyptian heads of state instructed teams of experts from both countries to work closer to address challenges as they arise during implementation of the project.
President Samia’s delegation that met El-Sisi included top government officials such as Minister of Energy January Makamba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Stergomena Tax and Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Egypt, Ambassador Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
