Parliament approves Malawi-Mozambique power project loan
Parliament on Friday passed a bill allowing government to borrow
K11 billion to facilitate implementation of the Malawi-Mozambique regional interconnector Project.
Minister of Finance, Development and Economic planning Joseph Mwanamveka said they will establish transmission link between the two countries to meet electricity demand in the country and improve trading in the southern African Power pool.
The project will involve construction of 218 kilometre 400Kilovolts high voltage alternative current transmission line from Mathambo in Thethe province, in central Mozambique and cross Malawian border into Mwanza at Phombeya in Balaka.
“We expect that through the Project, households and businesses in Malawi will have reliable access to electricity vital to improving productivity and completeness in domestic and regional markets,” he said.
Commenting on the matter, Malawi Congress Party legislator Ashems Songwe emphasised the importance of the project, saying the country is facing acute power supply.
“We would have loved if this project was done ten years ago,” he said Songwe however said the party’s greatest fear is the political relationship between the two governments impacting on key projects
that could have had a significant impact on the economy citing Shire-Zambezi –Nsanje water way inland project.
United Democratic Front (UDF) and UTM parties also appreciated the loan and prayed for an improvement in power supply.
