Magufuli of Tanzania eliminates worries about the dam in a natural park

Tanzanian President John Magufuli downplayed fears that a hydroelectric dam in a legendary nature reserve would affect the environment, although UNESCO said it was "seriously concerned" about the project.

The 2,100-megawatt project will straddle the Rufiji River in the Selous Game Reserve, a 50,000 km 2 (19,000 km 2) protected area that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

Tanzania has awarded a $ 3 billion contract to two Egyptian companies in December for the construction of the dam, which Magufuli has placed at the center of his presidency since his election in 2015.

He said that by providing energy to Tanzanians living near the reserve – a paradise for elephants, black rhinos, cheetahs and giraffes – the dam would deter local communities. felling trees for cheap fuel.

"I want to rebadure everyone, this project is actually about promoting the environment," Magufuli said at the inauguration of a new national park in northwestern Tanzania.

"In addition, this represents only a small portion of the reserve, barely three percent of the total area."

Magufuli – who has been accused of rigorous and intolerant dissent – defended Tanzania's environmental record, saying that about one-third of the country was protected land.

"I am very surprised by those who say we do not like the environment," he said.

His Environment Minister, Hamisi Kigwangalla, went further by attacking environmental defenders who criticized the project.

"Tanzania has no lessons to be learned from individuals or countries about protecting wildlife," he said.

"We have been protecting these wild animals for generations and generations, and these activists should be ashamed of themselves."

According to United Nations figures, only 2% of rural people and 39% of city dwellers have access to electricity.

Magufuli insisted that the dam would not only meet national electricity needs, but also provide excess electricity for export to neighboring countries.

But UNESCO has repeatedly called for the abandonment of this program, calling it "incompatible" with the World Heritage site status of the site, which has earned it a number of years. to be one of the largest wild areas of Africa.

In 2014, poaching of elephants led UNESCO to inscribe the reserve on its list of World Heritage in Danger. Mining and lack of financing are other major problems.