By Wezzie Gausi:
The Ministry of Energy has unveiled Malawi’s ambitious plans to start selling electricity to Zambia through a proposed Zambia-Malawi interconnector project.
This comes as Malawi is yet to start tapping power from neighboring Mozambique under the Mozambique-Malawi interconnection deal, whose prospects remain uncertain.
In an interview, Secretary for Energy Alfonso Chikuni said the ministry has written the Treasury on the intended application to the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) to express Malawi’s interest in participating in and being considered for IDA financing under phase II of the Retrade Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA).
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“The objective of this programme is to address regional energy integration challenges to achieve energy security, affordability and access, aligning with Malawi’s development priorities.
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“In fact, as we prepare for the additional 350mw from the Mpatamanga Hydro Peaking Plant to come online in the next four years, we plan to sell power to the South African Power Pool (SAPP), especially during peak hours. The most efficient and straightforward route to SAPP for Malawi is through Zambia, as Zambia’s connection to SAPP is already operational,”Chikuni said.
However, Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change Chairperson Werani Chilenga trashed the move.
He said currently Malawi is at 15 percent electricity accessibility and that the nation cannot be talking about selling power to other nations.
“Our goal as a nation is to reach 1000 megawatts generation by 2030 and be able to connect at least 50 percent of the population. We know if the country can be able to sell power, it will be a good thing but the time is not now.
