Africa Surveyors September- October Digital issue 2021

CONSTRUCTION
Tanzania plans to construct four
strategic dams in response to climate
change
In response to the effects of climate change,
Tanzania plans to construct four strategic dams in
different parts of the East African nation, this is
according to Cabinet Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso.
The Minister further confirmed that, preparations are
underway for the construction of the strategic dams
in Dodoma, Morogoro, Songwe and Iringa regions,
adding that the construction of the strategic dams
will go in tandem with the construction of mediumsized
dams in various parts of the country.
"Climate change has indeed affected water resources
in the country," Aweso told a press conference in the
capital Dodoma.
Aweso said other measures aimed at mitigating
climate change impacts on water resources will
include drawing water from the major lakes of
Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa, and also drawing
water from major rivers of Ruvuma, Rufiji, Kiwira,
Songwe and Kagera. He added that the government
has put in place measures aimed at protecting the
country's major water catchment areas.
In South Africa, Mahlako Energy Fund's solar
photovoltaic power plant is entering
commercial operation in the Northern
Cape Province. The project is intended
to supply solar photovoltaic energy
to Amazon Web Services (AWS) via
wheeling.
South Africa's Mahlako supplies 10 MWp of solar power
to Amazon via wheeling
Mahlako Financial Services (MFS) has
been successful. The 100% black-owned
energy investment and advisory firm
is successfully commissioning a solar
PV plant in Khathu, in South Africa’s
Northern Cape province. The company
implemented its project through its
Mahlako Energy Fund, which entered
into a “wheeling” transaction with
Amazon Web Services (AWS), the
subsidiary of U.S. e-commerce group
Amazon, which specializes in on-demand
cloud computing services for businesses
and individuals.
Wheeling allows electricity to be generated remotely
in one location and billed to an energy user in
another area. The Khathu solar plant has a capacity of
10 MWp. This power feeds AWS’ facilities through the
state-owned Eskom grid.
Read also- COP26: South Africa receives an $8.5bn
cheque for its energy transition
“With the South African government’s recent
announcement at COP26 to accelerate investment
in renewable energy and other sectors, we are
committed to contributing to South Africa’s goals of
just transitioning to cleaner forms of energy,” says
Meta Mhlarhi, director of Mahlako Energy Fund and
managing director of MFS.
According to the Sandton-based company, the
project implemented in partnership with the
Sola Group has contributed to the economic
development of the Northern Cape Province during
the construction phase and, throughout its lifetime,
will support permanent jobs in the areas of electrical
maintenance, operations and safety.
34 September-October issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com