By Wezzie Gausi:
Malawi is expected to start tapping electricity from Mozambique by June next year, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Energy Alfonso Chikuni has said.
Chikuni said the Moma power sub-station, for instance, will be commissioned in June 2025.
In an interview, Chikuni said amid the progress, the project has faced significant delays on both sides of the border.
“Construction of the Moma interconnector is progressing well, with commissioning targeted for June 2025. However, the project has encountered significant roadblocks, causing delays on both the Malawi and Mozambique sides.
“Construction on the Malawi side is expected to conclude by March 2025, while work on the Mozambican side is projected to finish by April 2025. Final testing and system integration will take place through May 2025,” Chikuni said.
The project, once completed, will allow Malawi to import up to 50 megawatts of electricity from Mozambique, a move aimed at stabilizing the country’s power supply, which has long been insufficient for both household and industrial use.
Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change Chairperson Werani Chilenga commended the government for pushing forward with the interconnection, describing it as crucial for addressing the country’s energy deficit.
“This is a commendable step towards improving the country’s energy supply. However, it must be noted that this project has been long overdue. It is high time we expedited such developments to ensure that key sectors like mining and manufacturing are not crippled by a lack of power,” Chilenga said.
The Moma interconnector is part of a broader regional initiative to enhance power trade within the Southern African Power Pool.
Malawi signed an initial agreement to import 50 megawatts from Mozambique, with plans to scale this up to 120 megawatts.
The project is expected to alleviate Malawi’s longstanding energy challenges, which have stifled industrial growth and economic development. However, questions remain about the country’s readiness to meet the financial obligations tied to the power purchase agreement, particularly in terms of foreign currency reserves.
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