Malawi changes power interconnector plan

The Malawi-Mozambique power interconnector design has been changed and will now be implemented in two phases, including exporting electricity back to Mozambique, government has said.

Malawi Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola, speaking on the sidelines of the sensitisation workshop on prevention of theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure on Monday in Mangochi, said the project will start soon.

In the initial design, the project included the construction of a 200 km, 220 kilovolts power line from Matambo substation, in Mozambique, to Phombeya, and construction of a new 220 kilovolts power substation.

But Matola has said the design has so far been changed and will include exporting electricity back to Mozambique.

“The first phase will be to tap power from Matambo up to Phombeya in Balaka over a stretch of 200 km which will be done by Mozambique. We will then tap the power from Phombeya to Nacala at a stretch of 800 km,”

Matola added that Mozambique needs the power to develop their Nacala Corridor and the power will pass through Malawi.

He added that the project documents are with the financiers including the African Development Bank, the Norwegian Government, the European Investment Bank, Department for International Development (DfID), and the World Bank.

Last year the President signed the interconnector memorandum of understanding (MoU) and this year in April Mozambique and Malawi signed the interconnector agreement.

The country currently generates up to 287 megawatts hydropower against suppressed demand of about 350 megawatts.

This year Malawi expects to add about 64 megawatts hydropower to the grid after the completion of the Kapichira Phase two.

Both the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) and the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) recognise an energy system that is well developed and efficient is critical for the socio economic development of the nation.

However, government realises the challenges the nation faces at all levels of electricity supply chains—generation, transmission and distribution.

The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has so far introduced and sustained demand management measures including the introduction of energy saver bulbs.

Government is also intent on diversifying the country’s energy mix from hydro electricity and total reliance on Shire river by exploring other sources of energy including geothermal, wind and solar and the promotion of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in energy generation and distribution.