Tanzania: President Samia to Officially Launch Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant on August 22

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to officially launch the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant on August 22, marking a major step in Tanzania’s efforts to expand reliable electricity generation.

The launch will take place at the project site in Rufiji District, Pwani Region, and is expected to bring together government leaders, guests and other stakeholders from Tanzania and abroad.

Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi said the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant (JNHPP), with an installed capacity of 2,115 megawatts, is the largest electricity project ever constructed in Tanzania using domestic financing.

The project cost approximately Sh7.452 trillion, equivalent to about US$3.35 billion.

Ndejembi described the planned launch as a historic event and an important step in Tanzania’s efforts to establish a more reliable energy system while supporting production, investment and economic growth.

“This launch is a historic event and an important step in Tanzania’s journey towards building a reliable energy system, while also stimulating production, investment and economic growth,” Ndejembi said.

According to the minister, the plant had contributed about 44.9 per cent of all electricity generated and fed into Tanzania’s national grid over the one year ending May 31, 2026.

This means the hydropower project has already become the source of nearly half of the electricity entering the national grid.

Construction of the project began in June 2019 and was completed in March 2025. Its dam has a storage capacity of about 33 billion cubic metres of water, nearly 10 times the capacity of the Mtera Dam.

The government has also said the project is expected to provide benefits beyond electricity generation.

Ndejembi said the dam has the potential to help control flooding in the Rufiji Basin, support irrigation agriculture, promote tourism and improve access to water for various uses.

The Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant is part of Tanzania’s efforts to increase electricity generation and reduce the impact of power shortages on households, businesses and industries.

With its 2,115-megawatt capacity, the project represents a major addition to the country’s electricity infrastructure and is expected to play a central role in meeting growing demand for power.