Egyptian El-Sewedy family’s electric firm boosts Tanzania power grid with 3 hydro turbines

Feyisayo Ajayi -

Key Point 

  • Elsewedy Electric installs three hydro-turbines worth $1 billion to boost Tanzania’s power grid by 705 MW.
  • In partnership with The Arab Contractors, Elsewedy Electric addresses Tanzania’s rising electricity demand, fostering economic growth.
  • Senior VP Wael Hamdy highlights the transition to reliable green energy, ending load shedding and advancing TANESCO’s carbon neutrality.

Elsewedy Electric, a leading multinational cable and electrical equipment manufacturer headed by Egyptian businessman Ahmed El-Sewedy, has installed three additional hydro-turbines worth over $1 billion to enhance Tanzania’s national power grid.

This move brings the total power supply from the project to 705 megawatts (MW), substantially strengthening the country’s energy infrastructure.

Key partnership to address energy needs

In partnership with The Arab Contractors, Elsewedy Electric’s project marks a major step forward in addressing Tanzania’s growing electricity demand and fostering economic development. Tanzania has faced significant challenges in meeting its rising energy needs, and this installation represents a crucial advancement.

Wael Hamdy, Senior Vice President and CEO of E&C at Elsewedy Electric, expressed pride in the company’s contributions. “We continue to deliver on our commitments,” Hamdy said. “Despite numerous challenges, we began supplying robust power to the Tanzanian grid on February 17, 2024. Shortly thereafter, we bridged the gap in TANESCO’s power demand while simultaneously replacing diesel-fired power with reliable green energy. This not only marks the end of load shedding in Tanzania but also paves the way for TANESCO’s carbon neutrality.”

Sustainable energy solutions for Africa

With the additional 705 MW connecting three hydro turbine generators to the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Project (JNHPP), which is expected to have a total installed capacity of 2,115 MW, the project significantly boosts power availability for businesses and households across Tanzania. Elsewedy Electric’s involvement in the JNHPP is part of its broader commitment to supporting sustainable energy solutions across the continent.

Electrical equipment leader in MENA

Founded in 1938 by the El-Sewedy family, Elsewedy Electric is a major player in the Middle East and North Africa’s electrical equipment manufacturing sector. The CEO of the group, Ahmed El-Sewedy owns a 25.16 percent stake in Elsewedy Electric, valued at over $500 million.

Under Ahmed El-Sewedy’s leadership, the company has evolved into a regional and international provider of energy, digital, and infrastructure solutions.

The successful connection of these three additional hydro turbine generators by Elsewedy Electric, boasting total assets of $3.6 billion and operations spanning 15 countries, marks a significant step toward meeting Tanzania’s electricity demands and stabilizing its power grid.