DR. SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN TO OFFICIALLY INAUGURATE JNHPP ON 22, AUGUST 2026

Minister Ndejembi: The inauguration will be a historic event; the project was financed with TZS 7.452 trillion in domestic funds.

The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, is expected to officially inaugurate the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), with an installed capacity of 2,115 megawatts, on 22 August 2026 at the project site in Rufiji, Coast Region.

Speaking to journalists on 15 August 2026 in Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Energy, Hon. Deogratius Ndejembi, said the inauguration will be a historic event witnessed by Tanzanians, government leaders, guests from within and outside the country, as well as development partners.

He said JNHPP is the largest power generation project ever implemented in Tanzania using domestic government financing, with an investment of approximately TZS 7.452 trillion, equivalent to US$3.35 billion.

Minister Ndejembi said the project has significantly increased the amount of electricity supplied to the National Grid, thereby strengthening electricity availability and reducing generation shortfalls. As of 31 May 2026, JNHPP had contributed approximately 44.9 percent of all electricity generated and supplied to the National Grid over the preceding year.

He explained that, beyond electricity generation, the project will deliver wider economic and social benefits, including flood control in the Rufiji Basin, irrigation agriculture, tourism, and water supply for various human uses.

Construction of JNHPP commenced in June 2019 and was completed in March 2025. The reservoir has a storage capacity of approximately 33 billion cubic metres of water, equivalent to about ten times the capacity of Mtera Dam. The power station ranks among the largest hydropower facilities in Africa.

According to Minister Ndejembi, the JNHPP investment is directly aligned with the objectives of Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050, particularly efforts to increase electricity generation, strengthen the National Grid, and create a solid foundation for increased production, investment and economic growth.

He called on Tanzanians and other stakeholders to follow the inauguration, describing it as a landmark achievement in Tanzania’s efforts to strengthen the energy sector and accelerate national development.