Tanzania opens East Africa’s largest hydropower plant, eyes electricity export
Key Takeaways
- Tanzania inaugurated the 2,115 MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project on the Rufiji River.
- The $2.84 billion plant raises Tanzania's total installed generation capacity to 4,646 MW.
- The government plans to use the power surplus for industry and potential electricity exports.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan inaugurated the $2.84 billion Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project as Tanzania targets reliable electricity, industrial growth and regional exports.
Tanzania has inaugurated its largest power plant, adding 2,115 megawatts of generation capacity as the country moves to end years of electricity shortages and build a surplus for industry and potential exports.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially opened the $2.84 billion Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project on the Rufiji River in Mkalinju on Saturday.
Hassan toured the facility and thanked the Energy Ministry, contractors and Tanzanians involved in delivering the project.
"We had no option but to continue with the project given its immense importance to the development of our country," Hassan said.
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"Indeed, it is a great joy for all of us to witness the completion of this project, which for many years has been part of our national plans and efforts to ensure that we have sufficient and reliable energy to support various development activities and the well-being of our people," she added.
The nine-turbine facility has an installed capacity of 2,115 MW, making it the largest hydropower plant in East Africa and one of the biggest on the continent.
Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi said Tanzania's total installed electricity generation capacity now stands at 4,646 MW.
According to Ndejembi, the Julius Nyerere plant accounted for 44.9 per cent of all electricity generated and supplied to Tanzania's national grid in the year to May 31, 2026.
The additional capacity puts Tanzania's available generation above its current peak demand, creating room for increased industrial electricity use and potential exports to neighbouring countries.
Construction of the project began in 2019 and was carried out by an Egyptian consortium comprising Arab Contractors and Elsewedy Electric.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the inauguration on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Plans to generate large-scale electricity from the Rufiji River date back decades. The development was previously known as the Stiegler's Gorge hydropower scheme before being named after Tanzania's founding president, Julius Nyerere.
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The Tanzanian government plans to use the additional electricity capacity to support manufacturing, mining and agriculture, attract investment and develop the country into a regional electricity supplier.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
