By Wendy Mkandawire
Energy expert Grain Malunga has urged the government and power utility bodies to pursue long-term solutions to end Malawi’s persistent blackouts, saying current measures only focus on short-term prevention.
Malunga described years of power outages as worrisome to national development and said the country lacks enduring solutions to the electricity crisis.
His remarks come as Malawi and Mozambique reached a key milestone in the Malawi-Mozambique Power Interconnector project.
In a statement, the Ministry of Energy announced that the 400-kilovolt transmission line connecting Matambo Substation in Mozambique to Phombeya Substation in Balaka was successfully energized on 8th August 2026.
Five megawatts were transferred during the test to commission commercial metering equipment.
The Ministry said the project, which was relaunched in 2021, is now at its final stage. Malawi and Mozambique are currently working on tariff arrangements to pave the way for commercial power trading.
According to the Ministry, the interconnector is expected to help Malawi address electricity generation shortfalls and improve reliability by providing access to power from Mozambique.
The line will also connect Malawi to the Southern African Power Pool, giving the country greater flexibility to access regional electricity and reducing pressure on foreign exchange needed for critical imports.
Malunga said that while the interconnector is a positive step, the government must go beyond such projects and address systemic issues in the power sector to guarantee a stable supply.
