MCA subpower station project excites bidders
The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA-Malawi) has said it is overwhelmed by the number of companies that have expressed interest to construct 400 kilovolts (kv) power line from Mozambique into Malawi.
The installation of the line, which is regarded as the transmission backbone of the Malawi power system, will involve the construction of subpower stations at Phombeya in Balaka and another at Nkhoma in Lilongwe and 132 kv substations at Chintheche in Nkhata Bay, Luwinga [Mzuzu] and Bwengu in Mzimba.
MCA-Malawi infrastructure development project director Felix Nkhoma told journalists on the sidelines of a visit by possible contractors at Nkhoma site that the institution is excited with the way companies are willing to undertake the works.
“Generally, we are overwhelmed by the number of companies and we assure them that we will follow international procurement bidding and we will use the MCC procurement guidelines in the bidding process,” he said.
Nkhoma said MCA-Malawi looks forward to hiring a contractor, which he said will have to undertake the work by constructing the power line within a specified time.
Explaining to the contractors, Nkhoma said Phombeya substation will be an uptake point of the 400 kv line, which he said will run for 173- kilometres tretch to Nkhoma substation as a landing point.
He said from Nkhoma substation, another 132 kv line will be installed to Bunda turn-off sub-station for distribution in the city of Lilongwe.
“We look forward to a situation whereby if Nkula [Hydro-power Station] is off, this 400 kv line should supply electricity across the country and this should improve availability of power in the country,” said Nkhoma.
Earlier on Monday, possible contractors undertook a per-bid site visit at Phombeya before undertaking a similar visit at Nkhoma.
Nkhoma said the infrastructure development project of MCA will also rehabilitate, upgrade and modernise Escom’s generation, transmission and distribution assets in most urgent need of repair.
