Environmentalists have opposed attempts by the Tanzanian government to revive the Stiegler Gorge hydropower project, warning that implementation could negatively impact on the fragile Selous Game Reserve ecosystem.

The conservationists’ concerns come after a directive by the Tanzanian Controller and Auditor-General for the government to revive the $2.6 billion Stiegler Gorge hydropower project.

In a report that was recently tabled in parliament, the Auditor-General said the Rufiji Basin Development Authority, which is managing the project, was facing financial constraints. For this reason, he wanted the Tanzanian government to finance the construction of the hydropower facility.

The project, in the Selous Game Reserve, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is projected to generate 2 100MW.

A Tanzanian environmentalist, Rugemeleza  Nshala, said the Tanzanian government should withdraw the project altogether as it was likely to harm the environment.

Nshala, who is also an Executive Director of the Lawyers Environmental Action Team, warned that construction of the project could affect the rich biodiversity in the reserve.

A 2012 Unesco report noted that a dam at Stiegler’s Gorge would have a serious impact on the reserve’s World Heritage Site status. The report calls on the Tanzanian government to reconsider the project in line with its commitments under the Unesco convention.

The World Heritage Centre and International Union for Conservation of Nature also consider that major dam projects are not appropriate developments inside natural World Heritage Sites.