$350.7mil MCA Compact grant to reduce blackouts

Blackouts in Malawi are expected to reduce drastically, once the USD350.7Million  Millennium Challenge Account-Malawi (MCA-M), the local implementing agency of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) energy compact is fully implemented.

Malawi Government signed the compact grant with MCA in April, 2011 and compact grant entered into force on 20 September, 2013. The project will run till September 29, 2018.

Speaking to a group of journalists who were taken around MCA Projects in order to appreciate for themselves on the progress, MCA Communications and outreach director, Zilani Khonje confirmed that the problem of blackouts will indeed  be reduced.

Khonje said the muilti million power project will improve power generation, transmission, and distribution in the country.

“The Malawi-MCC Energy sector compact will address some of the constraints in the energy sector, the sector include infrastructure development, management of weed and sedimentation along shire river,” said Khonje.

Khonje said the compact lays a foundation for Government, future expansion of capacity and network strengthening activities.

“What we are doing is that we are constructing four new substations in Mzuzu, Area 25 in Lilongwe, Kang’oma and New Lilongwe City Centre, from there we are expanding and rehabilitating four existing substations, and these are 33 Kv  Bwengu , 11 KV Karonga , 11Kv Lilongwe City and area 33Kv in the same Lilongwe City,” explained Khonje.

According to Khonje, MCA is  also constructing 400/132 KV sub station at Phombeya in Balaka and the New Lilongwe which is located in Nkhoma area.

“The two new stations have been designed considering their importance for the future development within the interconnected network in Malawi and the interconnections to the neighbouring countries.”

Khonje said the once completed, the two substations will improve voltage in Lilongwe and act as points for importing power from Mozambique and Zambia.

During the tour of the projects, contractors assuredthe media that they will complete the project in time.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!