Malawi and Tanzania have signed agreements that will see the two nations working together in implementation of energy sector projects for improved power supply.
On Friday 11th August 2023, Ministers of Energy for the two republics signed an Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understating for the energy sector cooperation after a two day technical meetings that took place in Dar es Salaam, between technical officials from the two ministries as well as the power utility supplier ESCOM and Tanzania’s TANESCO.
The two corporations signed an Inter-Utility Memorandum of Understanding for the Tanzania-Malawi (Tama) interconnector project, for the construction of a 400KV power line where Malawi is expected to access 50 megawatts.
Minister of Energy for Tanzania January Yusuf Makamba told MIJ Online that the Inter-Governmental agreement provides a roadmap for the implementation of the Lower Songwe Dam Project in which the two countries are expected to share resources in the construction of a 180 megawatts hydro power plant to be shared equally.
“We believe in the philosophy of jointly developing power projects because it makes it cheaper, it makes it faster, and also it strengthens cooperation between the two sisterly countries.” Makamba said
Meanwhile Ibrahim Matola, Minister of Energy for Malawi described the signing of the two key projects as a step forward in Malawi’s plans to improve power generation and supply.
According to Matola, for Malawi to achieve its 2063 goals which among them is to become a middle income economy through industrialization and agricultural development, there is need for huge investments in the energy sector.
“This is a huge step in the right direction in showing commitment to regional integration and shared resources through strengthened energy cooperation. The Songwe Dam project is very key not only for power generation but also for improved agricultural activities to spar economic development for the two nations.’ Matola said
The Tanzania-Malawi interconnection will among other things help the nation tap from the Eastern Africa power pool aside from the Southern Africa power pool the nation is already set to benefit from, with the 120MW Malawi-Mozambique interconnector project.
Earlier, Kamkwamba Kumwenda, Chief Executive Officer for ESCOM said the Inter-Utility MoU on Power Trade provides a starting point in steps to be undertaken for the implementation of the project including financing.