Climate change and water resources for energy generation in Tanzania

Abstract

Tanzania is one of the low income countries, which heavily depends on hydro-power for electric energy supply to the national grid. Impacts of climate change patterns on water resources supply to dams for hydro-energy generation is now evident. In turn, this has impacted national socio-economic development in numerous ways. The objective of this work was to analyze the link of climate change to water shortages for hydro-power generation in the Mtera reservoir, which supply 50% of the hydro-power to the national grid. Literature survey, records collection and analyses and observations were research tools used. The study revealed that, 64% of increasing variability in rainfall over years in the watersheds described declining water levels in Mtera dam. This strong relationship means that climate change is main driver of water shortages for hydro-power generation. This suggests a need for national adaptation strategies to water supply shortages. Improvements in the present hydro-power sources for water recycling and/or development of micro-dams for storage of excess water need exploration. Rain-water harvesting and recycling seems important adaptation strategies to changing hydrological patterns for water supply to the hydro-energy plants in Tanzania.