Malawi to tap Mozambique power in December 2023
Malawi will be able to start tapping power from the Southern Africa Power Pool in December next year after completion of construction of a 400 kilovolts power line between the country and Mozambique.
This is according to Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola, who indicated that in its initial phase, Malawi will be able to tap 50 megawatts from Mozambique.
Matola believes Malawi stands to benefit more from the arrangement because the country needs high volumes of electricity for its industrial development as envisioned in the Malawi 2063 development blue print.
He added that the country expects that the electricity will be cheaper because it is hydro.
“The electricity that we will be tapping from Mozambique comes from hydro; therefore, it must be cheap as compared to electricity coming from other sources such as solar. Malawians should not expect the electricity to be a burden on them but a blessing,” he said.
Last week, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi Chief Executive Officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda said the country needs more of hydro power which apart from being cheap, is reliable.
In its 2021 Assessment of Business Environment report, the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) lamented erratic and high cost of electricity as being among hindrances to business in Malawi.
The chamber said the challenge of high fixed cost per unit of electricity still persists and the main frustration to businesses is on the insistence of charging Maximum Demand Tariff even when businesses are operating way below their maximum production capacities.
“To support growth of industries, consideration must be made to review the cost structure of power supply as the maximum demand charges are way too high for industries that have potential to promote growth. An option of special attractive tariffs for manufacturing businesses must be considered for Malawi to make strides in industrialisation,” reads the report.
Currently, Malawi’s electricity generation hovers below 300 against an ever increasing demand and the destruction of Kapichira by Storm Ana has worsened the situation.
Justin Mkweu is a fast growing reporter who currently works with Times Group on the business desk.
He is however flexible as he also writes about current affairs and national issues.
