Energy sector in Malawi is in for a relief as the country is set to boost the electricity supply for its people. This will be brought by supply of 361MW that will be brought by the construction of Mpatamanga Hydroelectric Power Station. The project will be located on Shire River, which spans Blantyre and Neno districts. This project is getting closer to becoming a reality after it was announced that Mpatamanga Hydroelectric Power Station Funding had been secured.
The Minister of Energy in the country, made the announcement on this project on Friday evening in Lilongwe. This was at the government’s new weekly press briefing series, “Boma Likutinji?” that is organised by Ministry of information and Civic Education.
Project Factsheet
Location: Mpatamanga, Blantyre District, Southern Region of Malawi.
Cost: Approximately $700 million
Annual Generation: Estimated at 1,470 GWh.
Main Components: The project includes a main dam and a regulating dam. The main dam will have a 309 MW installed capacity, while the regulating dam will add an additional 52 MW.
Environmental Impact: The project aims to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 520,000 tons per year.
Impact on Population: Expected to provide electricity to around two million people.
Construction Timeline: Expected to be commissioned by April 2030.
Transmission: Electricity will be delivered to the grid through two transmission lines: a 64 km long 400 kV line and an 11.4 km long 132 kV line
Also read: 50MW Bwengu solar photovoltaic project in Malawi to get US $10M shot in the arm
Addressing the public at the briefing which airs live on MBC Television, Matola revealed that the funding of this mega project is now secured. This was after high level discussions that were held between President Lazarus Chakwera and the international financiers in Tanzania last week.
Institutions that will Provide the Mpatamanga Hydroelectric Power Station Funding
“Malawians, I bring good news to you,” Matola stated. “At the event of his visit to Tanzania l, the president got to engage with the World Bank, African Development Bank, and lastly the Rockefeller Foundation regarding Malawi’s electricity vision from the year 2025 to 2030. As a result, an agree has now been signed, and funds are now available for Mpatamanga Hydropower Project. This is indeed a game changer! More people will get connected to electricity.”
Furthermore, Matola disclosed that up to 95,000 households have been connected to the power grid between 2016 and 2024. This marks progress in the expansion of electricity access.
Also present at the briefing was the Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jacob Hara. Jacob announced plans of constructing interchanges in Blantyre and Mzuzu. This is aimed at improving traffic flow in the major cities of Malawi.
Also read: Mpatamanga hydroelectric power plant project in Blantyre Malawi
