Malawi Secures $2.15 Million Game-Changer for Tanzania Power Link
Malawi has received a significant financial boost in its battle against persistent electricity blackouts with the approval of a $2.15 million grant for the Tanzania-Malawi Electricity Interconnector Project.
The funding, approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Centre for Development Finance (MCDF), will update feasibility and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment studies for a proposed 400kV power transmission line linking Iganjo Substation in Tanzania to Nkhoma Substation in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The grant application was submitted jointly by the governments of Malawi and Tanzania through the African Development Bank (AfDB), which has congratulated both ESCOM and Tanzania’s TANESCO for their successful proposal.
ESCOM Chief Executive Officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda described the grant as a “major step forward” in the country’s long-term energy strategy. He noted that preparatory work has already begun, including establishment of the Nkhoma Substation which will anchor the interconnector line.
“This funding will allow us to assess the viability and benefits of this important infrastructure project, which has the potential to transform energy reliability in Malawi and across the region,” Kumwenda said.
The TAMA project comes as Malawi nears completion of the Malawi-Mozambique Interconnector, expected to start operations before year-end and supply 50 megawatts of electricity. The updated studies will build on earlier assessments conducted by ESCOM in 2008 and TANESCO in 2022.
The feasibility and ESIA studies are expected to begin in February 2026 and take 12 months to complete. The project aligns with ESCOM’s long-term vision of becoming a provider of reliable, inclusive, and affordable power for Malawi and the wider region.
Source: nyasatimes.com
