By the Respondents reporter
The Steering Committee of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) has expressed satisfaction with the implementation and performance of the flagship dam, describing it as efficiently executed and aligned with value-for-money standards set by the government.
The committee made the remarks on February 26, 2026, following an inspection of power generation progress at the Julius Nyerere Dam. Committee Chairperson Dr. Jim Yonazi, who also serves as Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities), said the project has become a key driver of economic and social transformation through expanded electricity generation.
“We are satisfied with the level of efficiency in the management and execution of this project. Compared to similar projects across Africa, this dam has been constructed to high quality standards and has significantly improved electricity availability in the country,” Yonazi said.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary for Energy, Director of Policy and Planning Petro Lyatuu confirmed that the project is now 100 percent complete and fully operational.
He noted that Tanzania’s national grid capacity has increased from 1,600MW in 2021 to over 4,000MW currently, more than doubling generation within five years.
The committee also inspected the Chalinze receiving and switching station, which distributes electricity generated from the dam to various parts of the country.
TANESCO Deputy Managing Director for Generation, Engineer Antony Mbushi, said the facility is complete and operational, while transmission line construction from Chalinze to Dodoma has reached 71.58 percent completion. The Chalinze–Kinyerezi–Mkuranga transmission project stands at 59.76 percent.
The committee concluded that continued expansion of strategic energy infrastructure is positioning Tanzania as an emerging regional power hub and strengthening its attractiveness to investors across East, Central and Southern Africa.
