Tanzania threw the switch on a $2.9 billion hydropower behemoth on Saturday, injecting a massive 2,115 megawatts of electricity into its national grid through a landmark facility constructed by an Egyptian corporate consortium.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly inaugurated the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant, unveiling the commemorative plaque and touring the sprawling Rufiji River complex. Madbouly attended the high-profile launch on behalf of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, signaling Cairo’s strategic backing of the project.
Constructed over 42 months by Egyptian infrastructure giants Arab Contractors and Elsewedy Electric Co., the facility ranks among Africa’s largest hydroelectric dams. The 131-metre-high concrete main dam spans 1,036 metres and holds back a colossal 34 billion-cubic-metre reservoir managed by seven spillway gates. The powerhouse utilizes nine 235-megawatt water turbines to generate electricity, which is then fed into the Tanzanian grid through a 400-kilovolt switchyard via the Chalinze transmission lines.
For Tanzania, the project is a transformative step toward energy security and grid expansion. For Egypt, it serves as a high-visibility showcase of its corporate engineering prowess. Madbouly highlighted the dam as a testament to Tanzanian political will and Egyptian technical capabilities, emphasizing that the successful completion proves Egyptian firms can deliver complex, multi-billion-dollar infrastructure developments across the African continent.
The Egyptian premier used the inauguration to push for deeper bilateral economic ties, calling for increased trade and private-sector investment. He pointed to the framework established during Sisi’s recent visit to Dar es Salaam, which targeted joint ventures across sectors including maritime logistics, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and energy.
Pivoting to regional geopolitics, Madbouly praised Tanzania’s balanced diplomatic approach. He expressed Cairo’s desire to leverage Tanzania’s constructive role to foster cooperation and mutual understanding among Nile Basin states—a critical foreign policy priority for Egypt.
The launch drew a heavy presence of senior officials. The Tanzanian delegation included Vice President Emanuel John Nchimbi, Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, and Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba. Egypt’s contingent featured Water Resources Minister Hani Sewilam, Housing Minister Randa El-Minshawy, Alexandria Governor Ayman Attia, alongside Arab Contractors Chairman Ahmed El-Assar and Elsewedy Electric CEO Ahmed Elsewedy.
