By Pascas Francisco
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited is handing over newly constructed houses to Project Affected Persons (PAPs) for the Mozambique-Malawi (MOMA) Interconnection Project.
The handover ceremonies are taking place in villages for the PAPs who were displaced from the Malawi side of MOMA Project, stretching 76 kilometres from Mwanza to Phombeya Substation in Balaka via Neno.
The initial handover ceremony of five houses took place in Siledi and Mpasabwire villages under Traditional Authorities Kanduku and Chagona respectively on Tuesday, 9th April 2024.
ESCOM also handed over 10 houses to PAPs at Chifunga and Chapita villages in T/A Mlauli in Neno District on Monday, April 15 2024.
ESCOM is yet to hand over the other 40 housing units whereas 39 others and a prayer house are under construction.
The PAPs were displaced from the corridor following ESCOM’s Wayleave Policy that structures such as houses should be built at least 100 metres away from the main power line.
The project involves constructing a 218-kilometre high-voltage power transmission line from Matambo Sub-Station in Tete, Mozambique, to Malawi.
MOMA will see Malawi adding 120 megawatts to the national grid following the renegotiation of the initial agreement with the Mozambique government.
The Commercial Operations Date for the Project is earmarked for November 2024. The World Bank, European Union, KfW and the Malawi Government fund the project.
