Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to commission the 2,115-megawatt (MW) Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) on August 22 at the project site in Rufiji, Pwani Region, Energy Minister, Hon. Deogratius John Ndejembi said.
The ceremony will bring together government officials, local and international guests, members of the public and development partners, Hon. Ndejembi told journalists in Dar es Salaam.
He described the commissioning as a major milestone in Tanzania’s efforts to strengthen electricity generation and build a more reliable energy system.
The government invested about 7.452 trillion Tanzanian shillings ($3.35 billion) in the project, making it the country’s largest government-financed power generation investment.
Construction began in June 2019 and was completed in March 2025, according to Hon. Ndejembi.
Since coming into operation, the plant has increased electricity supplied to Tanzania’s national grid and helped ease generation shortages that previously contributed to power rationing.
As of May 31, 2026, the project had accounted for about 44.9% of all electricity supplied to the national grid over the preceding 12 months, Hon. Ndejembi said.
The hydropower project also features a reservoir with a storage capacity of 33 billion cubic metres of water, equivalent to about 10 times the capacity of the Mtera Dam.
Beyond electricity generation, the government expects the project to contribute to flood control along the Rufiji River, irrigation, tourism and water supply.
Hon. Ndejembi said the investment aligns with the objectives of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050 and government efforts to expand generation capacity and strengthen the national power grid.
The project is also expected to support industrial development, attract investment and contribute to broader economic growth, he added.