Malawi-Mozambique power interconnection deal signed

Malawi President Joyce Banda has affirmed that the power interconnection project with Mozambique will end electricity blackouts in the country.

“The determination of my administration is to resolve power supply issues in Malawi therefore this agreement is indeed a big step towards having uninterrupted power supply in Malawi when it is materialized,” President Banda wrote on her facebook page ‘Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda’.

Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola signed on behalf of Malawi while Salvador Nambulete who is Mozambican Energy Minister signed on behalf of his country on Wednesday.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by presidents of the two countries Joyce Banda and Almando Elmirio Gebuza.

Matola said currently Malawi uses power of 287 Kilo Volts supplied by Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi ESCOM which is not enough, with regard to the industrial sector.

He however could not disclose the cost of implementing the whole project and how much the country is going to give to Mozambique.

‘Mixed views’
However, the power sharing deal has attracted mixed public views. Some say it is a good initiative to end frequent power cuts, while others say it will benefit one party.

“A well carried out cost-benefit analysis would show that it is a bad venture. Only mozambique is at a win. The $ IMF is paying them on our behalf (of which we’ll have to pay back) is a lot we’d rather develop our own power station with that $. That was infact Bingu’s reasoning which i think makes sense,” Eli Makumba wrote on the President’s facebook page.

However, Misoji Msumba wrote: “I think this really will ease the electricity supply especially for people who have just built houses and some have stayed up to three to four years without connections.”
‘more deals’

Other agreements signed were a Memorandum of understanding for cooperation in public security, immigration, environment and the promotion of Youth and Sports between Malawi and Mozambique.

And President Banda says “I will personally ensure that we mobilise resources to be deployed as soon as possible to make sure that the people of Malawi benefit from the bilateral talks I had with the President of Mozambique.”