Malawi eyes 125MW power boost

Malawi could see relief from persistent blackouts as two power projects prepare to inject a combined 125 megawatts of electricity into the national grid.

The projects, involving 75MW of multifuel thermal power and 50MW of solar energy, are expected to strengthen electricity generation, reduce unserved energy and diversify the country’s power sources.

The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) signed separate Transmission Connection Agreements with AZA Power Solutions Limited and Quantel Renewable Energy Limited in Blantyre on Friday, October 9, 2026.

The agreement with AZA paves the way for a 75MW multifuel thermal power plant, being developed by UR Energy and Wartsila, to connect to the national grid through ESCOM’s existing 132/33kV Nanjoka Substation in Salima.

According to ESCOM, the project is expected to increase Malawi’s baseload generation capacity by 17 percent and reduce unserved energy by approximately 60 percent.

ESCOM Chief Executive Officer William Kaipa said the additional electricity would help address the generation deficit responsible for load shedding and frequent power outages affecting households and businesses.

“The additional 75MW will help address the generation deficit that contributes to load shedding and frequent power outages, thereby affecting households and businesses,” Kaipa said.

He said the project would provide dependable baseload electricity while diversifying Malawi’s energy mix and reducing its vulnerability to droughts and low water levels that affect hydropower generation.

AZA Power Solutions Managing Director Abel Manumbu said the project was not only about generating electricity but also creating opportunities for Malawians.

“We are not just building a power plant. We are building opportunities,” Manumbu said.

He commended ESCOM for its professionalism and said AZA would be a dependable partner as the corporation worked to improve electricity supply.

Meanwhile, the agreement with Quantel Renewable Energy Limited will allow the company to connect a 50MWac solar photovoltaic power plant to the national grid through the New Bwengu Substation in Mzimba District.

Quantel is a consortium of independent power producers that includes Sri Lanka’s Vidullankah PLC and Denmark’s Frontier Energy.

Kaipa said the solar project would help address electricity supply challenges, particularly in the Northern Region, while reducing the country’s dependence on hydropower.

“This 50MWac photovoltaic power plant at the New Bwengu Substation offers a direct solution to these problems, helps ESCOM to further diversify its energy mix and reduce our overdependence on hydropower,” he said.

He added that generating electricity closer to demand centres in the Northern Region could ease pressure on long-distance transmission lines.

Quantel Renewable Energy Chief Executive Officer Patridge Shycal said the signing marked a major milestone in moving the project from development towards delivering electricity to the national grid.

“Today is a defining milestone for the Quantel Project. The signing of this Transmission Connection Agreement signifies that our project will now connect power into the national grid. We are moving from development to actual delivery,” Shycal said.

Together, the two projects are expected to add 125MW of generation capacity to Malawi’s electricity system, with thermal power providing additional dependable supply and solar energy diversifying the country’s sources of electricity.

However, the signing of the agreements does not mean the additional electricity is already available. The projects must progress to grid connection and power delivery before consumers can benefit from the expected improvements.