(3 Minutes Read)
Malawi is set to experience a major turnaround in its electricity supply system, bringing renewed hope for an end to chronic power blackouts. This positive development comes following the approval of a USD 2.15 million grant—equivalent to roughly MWK 3.6 billion—for the Tanzania-Malawi (TAMA) Electricity Interconnection Project, as reported by Nyasa Times.
The funding, secured through the Multilateral Cooperation Centre for Development Finance (MCDF), will support critical updates to both the feasibility study and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for a proposed 400kV high-voltage power transmission line. This line is intended to connect Tanzania’s Iganjo Substation to the Nkhoma Substation located in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The grant proposal was a collaborative effort between the governments of Malawi and Tanzania, facilitated through the African Development Bank (AfDB). In a statement, the AfDB congratulated the national electricity utilities—Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO)—for successfully securing the funding.
Kamkwamba Kumwenda, the CEO of ESCOM, hailed the grant as a critical advancement in Malawi’s long-term energy development roadmap. He noted that ESCOM had already laid the groundwork for the interconnector by initiating construction on the Nkhoma Substation, which will serve as Malawi’s terminal for the cross-border line.
“This grant allows us to proceed with in-depth analysis of the project’s feasibility and environmental impact,” Kumwenda stated. “With reliable data, we can move confidently toward a project that has the potential to revolutionize energy access and dependability in Malawi and the broader region.”
The TAMA project follows closely on the heels of the Malawi-Mozambique (MOMA) Interconnector, which is nearing completion and expected to deliver an additional 50 megawatts to Malawi’s grid by year’s end. The combination of these interconnection projects is anticipated to significantly enhance the country’s energy resilience and facilitate cross-border electricity trading within the Southern African region.
The new feasibility and ESIA studies will build upon prior assessments conducted by ESCOM in 2008 and TANESCO in 2022. The updated evaluations are scheduled to commence in February 2026 and are projected to take approximately one year to complete. In the interim, ESCOM is initiating the procurement process to select a qualified consulting firm to carry out the studies.
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Overall, the TAMA Interconnector is closely aligned with ESCOM’s broader strategic vision—to provide Malawi and its neighboring countries with power that is not only dependable and inclusive, but also cost-effective. This initiative represents a crucial step toward regional energy integration and long-term economic development.
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