YEAR ENDER: JNHPP writes history in energy sector

DAR ES SALAAM: AS 2025 draws to a close, the year has marked a historic milestone in Tanzania’s energy sector with the completion and commissioning of the long-awaited Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP).

The mega project, which has injected 2,115 megawatts (MW) into the national grid, has decisively addressed one of the country’s most persistent economic constraints: unreliable electricity supply.

Beyond adding power, the achievement lays a strong foundation for industrialisation, investment and long-term economic growth.

In April this year, the activation of the ninth and final turbine officially completed the project, bringing its total installed capacity to 2,115MW.

Each of the nine turbines generates 235MW, placing the JNHPP among the largest hydropower facilities in sub-Saharan Africa and effectively doubling Tanzania’s electricity generation capacity.

Located on the mighty Rufiji River in the Coast Region, the project is more than an engineering feat. It stands as a symbol of national resolve and a demonstration of Tanzania’s ability to harness its natural resources to power development and shape its own future.

The historic achievement was confirmed on April 5 during an inspection tour by then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, who announced that all turbines were fully operational.

“All nine turbines are now running and collectively producing 2,115 megawatts,” Dr Biteko said, noting that the project had maintained steady progress since the first turbine was commissioned in February 2024.

He described the completion as clear evidence of the government’s determination to ensure reliable and sufficient electricity for all Tanzanians, a cornerstone for industrialisation, rural electrification and sustained economic growth.

“This project gives hope for accelerated economic transformation, industrial expansion and improved livelihoods,” Dr Biteko said, adding that when the Sixth Phase Government took office, the project was only 30 per cent complete.

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Construction of the JNHPP officially began on July 26, 2019, when the late President John Pombe Magufuli laid the foundation stone at the Rufiji site, located on the border of the Coast and Morogoro regions.

The project was implemented by a consortium of Egyptian firms, Arab Contractors and Elsewedy Electric, under a bilateral agreement between Tanzania and Egypt.

From the outset, the project was conceived not merely as a power station, but as a strategic national investment capable of transforming Tanzania’s economic trajectory.

The 134-metre-high concrete dam stretches more than one kilometre across the Rufiji River, creating a reservoir covering over 1,200 square kilometres and capable of storing more than 34 billion cubic metres of water.

This vast capacity ensures year-round power generation while also supporting flood control and improved downstream water management for agriculture and wildlife.

The completion of the JNHPP brings to life one of the grandest visions of Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

Decades ago, Nyerere identified Stiegler’s Gorge now home to the JNHPP, as a site of immense potential capable of powering the nation’s industrial and social development.

Guided by the principles of the 1967 Arusha Declaration, Nyerere believed that true independence required economic self-reliance, with energy security at its core. He frequently spoke of harnessing Tanzania’s rivers to fuel industrialisation, rural development and national dignity.

When inaugurating the project in 2019, President Magufuli recalled this legacy and announced that the Selous Game Reserve would be renamed Nyerere National Park in honour of the leader who first envisioned the hydropower project at Rufiji.

Dr Magufuli described the project as the long-overdue fulfilment of Nyerere’s dream, one his administration pursued with determination to move it from blueprint to reality.

With an installed capacity of 2,115MW, the JNHPP is expected to meet more than 60 per cent of Tanzania’s electricity demand, fundamentally reshaping the national energy mix.

The project significantly reduces reliance on expensive thermal power and imported fuels, saving the country hundreds of millions of dollars annually in fuel import costs. These savings can now be redirected to critical sectors such as health, education, water and infrastructure.

Beyond cost reductions, the project delivers stability. Reliable and affordable electricity is the backbone of modern economies and Tanzania now has a solid platform on which to build.

The benefits of the JNHPP extend far beyond electricity generation. Improved grid stability has already reduced outages and production costs in industrial zones such as Kibaha, Dodoma and Mwanza.

Energy-intensive industries, including cement, steel, fertiliser, textiles and agro-processing, are expected to expand, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The project also enhances Tanzania’s appeal to both foreign and local investors seeking dependable power supply.

Moreover, Tanzania is positioning itself as a regional energy hub. With interconnection projects underway linking Zambia, Kenya and Uganda, the country plans to export surplus electricity, earning foreign exchange and strengthening regional integration.

Negotiations with Zambia are already at an advanced stage, alongside construction of transmission infrastructure.

Crucially, the JNHPP supports inclusive development. Increased generation capacity accelerates rural electrification under the Rural Energy Agency (REA) programme, extending electricity access to more households, schools, health centres and small businesses.

In rural communities, power unlocks new opportunities ranging from grain milling and irrigation to cold storage, digital services and tourism. Women and youth, often excluded from formal employment, stand to benefit through entrepreneurship and skills development.

While the project has attracted scrutiny due to its location within Nyerere National Park, the government has implemented extensive environmental safeguards to minimise ecological impact.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has consistently emphasised that development must go hand in hand with environmental protection, describing conservation as “a matter of life and death.”

Mitigation measures include controlled water releases to sustain downstream ecosystems in the Rufiji Delta, reforestation programmes, wildlife corridors and strengthened environmental monitoring. The dam also contributes to flood control, protecting communities and ecosystems downstream.

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For many Tanzanians, the JNHPP represents more than megawatts and turbines. It is a source of national pride and a testament to what can be achieved through unity, leadership and long-term vision.

At the peak of construction, the project employed more than 12,000 Tanzanians, providing skills, experience and livelihoods. Local businesses benefited from supply contracts, amplifying the project’s broader economic impact.