Tanzania has commissioned its largest-ever power plant, the 2,115-megawatt Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, which will significantly increase its electricity-generation capacity. Built on the Rufiji River at an estimated cost of $2.84 billion, the project raises national generation capacity to 4,646 MW, compared with peak demand of 2,271 MW. This creates a substantial surplus for potential exports to neighboring countries, including Kenya and Zambia. President Samia Suluhu Hassan called the plant a turning point for ending chronic blackouts and said it would spur investment, job creation, and GDP growth. The project, built on a river flowing through the Selous Game Reserve, drew years of criticism from conservationists who are concerned about its potential impact on wildlife and habitats within the reserve. With its launch, hydropower now supplies roughly 60% of Tanzania’s electricity.