The Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric project in Tanzania is set to deliver its first power in June 2022.
The project is 62.7 percent complete with current focus on installation of the turbines. The hydropower project is set to be the largest in the East African Community (EAC).
It is being constructed on the banks of the Rufiji river in eastern Tanzania and will cost USD 2.9 billion.
Already the first of nine turbines, each with a capacity of 235 MW has been installed. The hydropower plant will have a total capacity of 2,115 MW and produce 5,920 GWh of energy annually upon full operation by 2027.
The generated energy will be fed through a new 400 kV high voltage line to the substation, where the energy will be fed into the national grid.
The 134 mtr (440 ft) arched, concrete dam is expected to create a reservoir lake, 100 km in length, measuring 1,200 sq km, with 34,00,00,00,000 cu mtr (1.2×1012 cu ft) of water.
Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric project is being built through a joint venture (JV) of two Egyptian companies, the Arab Contractors Company and Elsewedy Electric, and will secure a clean power supply for over 60 million Tanzanians as well as control water flow during flooding.
The project is owned and will be managed by the government-owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO). It is expected to enhance access to affordable electricity which will propel economic growth as well as attract investment in the country.
It will also transform the country through generation and supply of reliable electricity for both domestic and industrial use.