Malawi’s push for energy stability has received a major boost following the approval of a $2.15 million (about K3.6 billion) grant for the Tanzania-Malawi (Tama) Interconnector Project. The project is premised on updating feasibility and environmental studies for the 400kV electricity transmission line. The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) confirmed the development, which comes after the grant was approved by the Governing Committee of the Multilateral Cooperation Centre for Development Finance (MCDF).
The funds, secured through a joint application by the governments of Malawi and Tanzania via the African Development Bank (AfDB), will be used to update feasibility and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) studies. The 400kV Tama line will run from Iganjo Substation in Mbeya, Tanzania, to Nkhoma Substation in Lilongwe, Malawi, connecting the two countries in a regional effort to improve energy security. The development comes at a time Malawi is preparing to commission the 50 megawatts (mw) Malawi- Mozambique (Moma) Power Interconnector Project before the end of 2025.
Together, the two projects represent a major step toward diversifying Malawi’s energy sources and ending the persistent electricity blackouts that have hampered industrial growth and household supply for years. Escom Chief Executive Officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda welcomed the development, saying the utility company had already made strides in preparing for the interconnection initiative. “We had already started preparatory works for the Tama Interconnector Project.
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Among other things, we already have Nkhoma Substation, which will serve as the landing point for the interconnector line in the centre,” Kumwenda said. He said the funds would facilitate the smooth rollout of the project by providing the necessary updates to technical and environmental assessment stakeholders. “This funding will allow us to assess the viability and potential benefits of this important infrastructure project, which has the capacity to greatly enhance energy connectivity and reliability in Malawi and the region.
“We, as Escom, are on the right track to achieving our vision of becoming a supplier of reliable, inclusive and affordable electricity in Malawi and in the region,” Kumwenda said. The studies will be an update to Escom’s 2008 assessments on the Western Backbone (Nkhoma- Kasungu-Mzimba-Bwengu- Karonga) transmission line and will incorporate findings from Tanesco’s 2022 assessments on the Tanzanian side. The feasibility and ESIA work are expected to take 12 months from February 2026.
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