Hassan Magulumali
Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Energy, Salome Makamba, has commended Parliament for its contribution to overseeing the implementation of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), which has now reached 100 per cent completion.
Makamba made the remarks in Parliament while responding to a question from Mwera Constituency MP Suleiman Mohamed Rashid, who sought clarification on when the government would complete the major hydropower project.
She informed Parliament that the project was completed on February 23, 2025, and was officially inaugurated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on August 22, 2026.
According to the Deputy Minister, all generating units at the facility are now operational, producing a combined electricity output of 2,115 megawatts (MW), which is supplied to the national electricity grid according to the country’s demand.
She praised Parliament for its oversight role throughout the project’s implementation, noting that legislative supervision had contributed to monitoring progress towards the completion of one of Tanzania’s largest energy infrastructure investments.
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The Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, constructed across the Rufiji River in the Selous ecosystem, is a strategic national investment designed to strengthen electricity generation capacity, improve energy security and support Tanzania’s long-term economic development.
With an installed generation capacity of 2,115 MW, the project represents a major addition to the country’s electricity infrastructure and is expected to support growing demand from households, industries, businesses and public institutions.
Reliable electricity supply is particularly important as Tanzania continues pursuing industrialisation, expanding manufacturing activities and implementing major infrastructure projects that require stable and affordable energy.
The project is also expected to reduce pressure on other electricity generation sources, diversify the country’s energy mix and improve the capacity of the national grid to meet increasing consumption requirements.
Makamba’s statement highlights the government’s position that the completion and operation of the project mark an important milestone in Tanzania’s efforts to strengthen domestic energy production and establish a more reliable electricity supply system.
The government continues to prioritise investments in the energy sector as part of its broader development agenda, recognising electricity as a critical foundation for economic growth, job creation and improved living standards.
