Small Hydro Resource Mapping in Tanzania - Prefeasibility Study in Luegere

In 2013, ESMAP launched an initiative to support the efforts of countries to improve the knowledge of renewable energy (RE) resources, establish appropriate institutional framework for the development of RE and provide "free access" to geospatial resources and data. This initiative will also support the IRENA-GlobalAtlas program by improving data availability and quality, consulted through an interactive atlas. This "Renewable Energy Mapping: Small Hydro Tanzania" study, is part of a technical assistance project, ESMAP funded, being implemented by Africa Energy Practice 1 of the World Bank in Tanzania (the “Client”) which aims at supporting resource mapping and geospatial planning for small hydro. It is being undertaken in close coordination with the Rural Energy Agency (REA) of Tanzania, the World Bank’s primary Client country counterpart for this study. The prefeasibility study of the Luegere River is characterized by a good guaranteed low-flow that should be confirmed by hydrological monitoring of the River. The preliminary investigation of the surface geology concludes that from a geological point of view the site is favorable for the construction of the project as long as the appropriate mitigation measures are put in place. The site has no major problems of stability and leakages. Beyond the development of the Luegere hydroelectric project, it is strongly recommended that the Government of Tanzania further develop the existing hydrological monitoring network for its rivers with high hydropower potential in order to better understand the available water resources and thus promote the development of hydroelectric projects across the country. It is only in a context of reduced uncertainties through reliable, recent and long-term records (more than 20 years) that technical parameters and economic and financial analyzes of hydroelectric developments can be defined accurately, enabling optimization of their design and their flood control infrastructure (temporary and permanent).