By Ben Dzama
The long awaited Malawi – Mozambique electricty interconnector project has funally kicked off.
Malawi’s Consular General in Mozambique, Happy Saka, said the project will help Malawi tap 120Megawatts from Mozambique which would greatly
improve power supply in Malawi.
The 400 Kv power lines will be used to tap power from Mozambique as part of the Malawi-Mozambique Power Interconnector.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction works took place at Mutarara in Tete Province on Thursday and is expected to be completed by December 2023.
The project will be carried out by Lansen & Toubro Limited and Gora Civil Engineering & Building Contractors.
President Lazarus Chakwera in April 2022 went to Mozambique for a state visit where he described the launch of the Mozambique-Malawi Interconnector as timely and a prerequisite for speeding up economic growth and improving the living standards of the citizens.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of Mozambique-Malawi Interconnector, in Tete Mozambique
Chakwera said the construction of the 400kv transmission line project will increasing electricity demand in Malawi, and create opportunities for trade in the Southern African Power Pool, provide safe and reliable interconnection of power by enabling supply of 50MW of power from Mozambique to Malawi, and provide room for Malawi to tap more power that can be exported into the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
“I should also mention that this project will cushion Malawi against future power losses due to unforseen and uncertain circumstances. This Interconnector will assist in closing the gap between power supply and demand in Malawi which is adversely affecting our agriculture, the manufacturing industry, and delivery services.” Said President Chakwera.
He said the line could become a source of revenue for Malawi in the near future when the country will be exporting power to the region once domestic supply is meet with construction of other projects like the Mpatamanga, Kholombidzo, and Fulu Hydropower projects.
President Chakwera went to Mozambique for a 4 day official tour and returned home on April 24,2022.
President Chakwera laid the foundation stone a complement of a similar event at Phombeya Substation in Balaka last November, historic because it establishes a reliable interconnection of power not only between the two countries but across the SADC region.
He said “The 400kV Mozambique – Malawi Transmission Line will create a link between the two countries to meet increasing electricity demand in Malawi and to create opportunities for trade in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
The transmission line is expected to enable initial supply of 50 megawatts of power from Mozambique to Malawi with room for us to get extra 60 megawatts upon further agreements between our respective power utility companies.”
Chakwera said he was delighted to see the project commence as it will address power needs at the back of losing 129 megawatts from the grid due to damage caused by Cyclone Ana.
“It is also pleasing that the construction phase of this project will create over 1,000 jobs to both Malawians and Mozambicans.”
