Malawi: Gov’t To Import 50 MW Of Power From Mozambique In February 2026 To Ease Load Shedding

Malawi will, from February 2026, import 50 MW of power from neighboring Mozambique to ease the crippling load shedding that has battered households and businesses, Minister for Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Hon. Dr. Jean Mathanga, has announced.

The minister revealed this during an inspection tour of the Phombeya Substation in Balaka, where she confirmed that the Mozambique–Malawi Interconnector Project (MOMA) is now in its final stages of completion.

According to her, the project is now firmly backed financially, following strong assurances from the Minister of Finance and the Reserve Bank of Malawi that the required monthly payments will be prioritized.

“This 50 MW will go a long for a long way in easing the burden of load shedding that Malawians are experiencing. I have also received firm guarantees that the US$5 million monthly obligation needed to access this power will be honored without disruption,” said Dr. Mathanga.

She emphasized that energy is the backbone of economic growth, and the government is treating the MOMA project as a national economic lifeline, not just an electricity deal.

The importation of the 50 MW is expected to stabilize Malawi’s power grid, support industries, revive struggling businesses, and restore productivity lost due to persistent blackouts.

ESCOM Acting Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Sinosi Maliano, confirmed that the 50 MW supply has already been secured under an existing Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Mozambique.

“This is an immediate and realistic gain. While discussions for higher imports have taken place, the current 50 MW is guaranteed and will make a tangible difference in reducing load shedding nationwide,” said Maliano.

The MOMA project connects the Matambo Substation in Mozambique to the Phombeya Substation in Malawi through 218 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines, marking one of the most strategic power investments in Malawi’s history.

Once operational, the interconnector is expected to boost national energy security, strengthen investor confidence, and accelerate industrial growth, especially in manufacturing, tourism, and mining.

The project also signals renewed momentum in Malawi’s regional energy integration and long-term power stability strategy, bringing fresh hope to citizens who have endured years of unreliable electricity supply.

As February 2026 draws closer, all eyes are now on ESCOM, the Ministry of Energy, the Treasury, and the Reserve Bank to translate these assurances into uninterrupted power — and finally turn the page on Malawi’s long-standing load shedding crisis.