Malawi/Mozambique Fine Tune Power Deal

Malawi and Mozambique have revised the much awaited electric tapping deal between the two countries, Principle Secretary in the Ministry of Energy Dr Winford Masanjala confirmed on Friday.

He said the new pact, power lines from Maputo will also proceed to other parts of Mozambique from Malawi so that the power is also shared to some parts of that country.

The Malawi-Mozambique power interconnection deal, which was rolled back in 2009, has encountered various alterations at various levels over the years.

The two neighboring countries have now agreed to increase the power capacity Maputo is to transfer to Lilongwe up from 220 kilo volts to about 400.

Through the agreement, Mozambique would use Malawi as a channeling point for electric power to some parts of that country, said Dr Masanjala, Malawi’s Principle Secretary in the Ministry of Energy

“We are discussing to channel power capacity through 400 kilowatts power lines. Our Mozambican counterparts have expressed interest for the power lines to continue to other parts of that country through Malawi,” he said.

He said Malawi is waiting for Mozambique to propose a date for signing the proposed power interconnection draft agreement which would determine the next step in the energy tapping process.

Plans to sign the pact late last year flopped as Mozambique could not come forward with a specific date for signing.

But it remains arguable on whether the pact is a win-win deal for the two countries.

“Malawi have not yet calculated the cost of tapping power from Mozambique, we as a country first have to decide on how we want the power line to go. Once we decide, then we will cost it and seek a financier,” said Dr Masanjala.