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Authorities in Tanzania have shut down five hydroelectric stations because the country is generating more electricity than needed.
This decision comes at a time when many African countries, including Nigeria, are struggling with power shortages and unreliable electricity supply.
Tanzania Producing More Power Than It Needs
According to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, the Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station has been generating so much power that it can fully supply major cities like Dar es Salaam.
For the first time in the country’s history, Tanzania has had to close down hydroelectric plants because of overproduction.
A government official from Tanesco, Tanzania’s power company, explained:
"We have turned off these stations because demand is low, and there is too much electricity with no place to send it."
The Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam (2,115MW) is almost at full capacity due to heavy rainfall earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Nigeria Struggles with Power Shortages
Unlike Tanzania, Nigeria continues to battle poor electricity supply despite having an installed power generation capacity of 13,000MW. However, only 1,938MW is currently available for use, leaving many Nigerians without reliable power.
Recently, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) increased electricity tariffs for Band A consumers from ₦66 per kilowatt-hour to ₦225, a 240% price hike. These consumers—about 15% of electricity users—are expected to receive 20 to 24 hours of electricity daily.
However, the tariff hike has sparked outrage among Nigerians, with many questioning why they must pay more for a service that remains unreliable.
Experts Call for Urgent Action
Energy analyst Wale Ogundeji told Legit.ng that Nigeria's electricity crisis is caused by poor infrastructure, corruption, and financial mismanagement.
He explained:
"Nigeria’s power grid is weak, with constant blackouts affecting businesses and daily life. Years of mismanagement and underinvestment have made things worse, and the growing population only increases demand."
Ogundeji also pointed out that electricity theft and illegal connections make the situation worse, draining resources from the system.
He warned that without serious investment and policy reforms, Nigeria’s power problems will continue to slow down economic growth and development.
What Next?
While Tanzania enjoys too much electricity, Nigeria is still struggling to keep the lights on. Experts believe that for Nigeria to solve its electricity crisis, more investment, better regulation, and a shift to renewable energy are needed.
The question remains: When will Nigeria finally have enough electricity for all its citizens?
