The Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) is delivering on its promise to boost Tanzania’s electricity supply and drive economic growth, the Project Steering Committee has said.
The committee inspected the dam’s operations on February 26, 2026, and expressed satisfaction with its management and execution, noting that the project meets high-quality standards and represents excellent value for government investment.
Dr. Jim Yonazi, Chairperson of the committee and Secretary General in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, Coordination, and Persons with Disabilities), said the dam is a major driver of economic and social development by increasing electricity availability across the country.
“We are very satisfied with how efficiently this project has been managed and implemented. Compared to other projects in Africa, this dam is of top quality and has improved access to electricity nationwide. This is a major achievement for the country,” Dr. Yonazi said.
On behalf of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy, Director of Policy and Planning Mr. Petro Lyatuu confirmed that the project is fully complete and its benefits are already visible.
“In 2021, Tanzania’s national grid had a generation capacity of 1,600 megawatts. Today, it exceeds 4,000 megawatts more than double the previous level.
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The dam is now producing electricity, strengthening the national grid, and supporting the country’s development and citizens’ well-being,” Mr. Lyatuu said.
The committee also visited the Chalinze electricity reception and cooling station, which receives power from the dam and distributes it across the country.
Engineer Antony Mbushi, Deputy Managing Director for Generation at TANESCO, said the station is fully operational.
He added that the transmission line from Chalinze to Dodoma is 71.58 percent complete, while the Chalinze-Kinyerezi-Mkuranga line has reached 59.76 percent.
“The committee is satisfied with the progress and emphasized the need to continue increasing electricity production to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply,” Engineer Mbushi said.
The committee concluded that the successful execution of strategic power projects positions Tanzania as a key investment destination and a central electricity hub in East, Central, and Southern Africa.
