A contractor for 400kV New Matambo Substation in Tete, Mozambique, has assured of its completion by December this year.
The substation is the hub of the Mozambique-Malawi (MOMA) Power Transmission 400kV Interconnection Project involving Malawi’s implementers, ESCOM Limited and Mozambique’s Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM).
Engineer Ju Dafei of JV Sinohydro gave an update when ESCOM Limited’s delegation toured MOMA project construction works on the Mozambique side from October 1 to 4 2024.
“We hope to energise this substation by December. We are very optimistic,” Dafei told the delegation on October 1 2024.
The delegation also visited construction sites for high voltage power transmission towers along Mozambique’s 142-kilometre stretch to the Mwanza Border. Malawi’s portion stretches 76km from Mwanza Border to Phombeya Substation for ESCOM.
Part of the delegation also attended Project Joint Monthly Progress Meetings involving the contractors, owners engineer and clients (ESCOM and EDM).
The new substation for EDM will be connected to the old 200kV Matambo Substation which receives power from the Southern Africa Power Pool, enabling Malawi to tap 50 megawatts from the regional power market.
The project involves constructing a 218-kilometre high voltage transmission line from Matambo to Malawi via Mwanza to Phombeya.
The Malawi government funds MOMA alongside KfW, the European Union and the World Bank to the tune of USD127 million.
Malawi’s construction works are expected to be completed this December and the whole line is scheduled for energizing by mid-June next year.