Malawian power imports from Mozambique expected to take several years to become a reality

The power line between Mozambique and Malawi starting at the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric dam (HCB) in Tete province, is expected to take a few years to become a reality, Mozambique’s Energy Minister, Salvador Namburete said last week in Maputo.

Speaking to Mozambican radio station Rádio Moçambique, the minister said that construction of a transmission line from the Matambo substation in Tete to Malawi would take around two years, and it would cost an estimated US$100 million.

Malawi is facing a power supply crisis, which is expected to worsen until December, according to the country’s authorities when maintenance work on one of the hydroelectric power plants set up along the Shire River is due to be concluded.

Last May, Mozambique and Malawi signed a memorandum of understanding for the energy sector with a view to re-activating Malawi’s interest in importing energy from Cahora Bassa, a project which had previously been rejected by deceased President Bingu wa Mutharika.