Debate has ensued over government plans to implement the $600 million (about K438 billion) Mpatamanga Hydropower Project on the Shire River when the river is failing to maximise energy generation capacity for Nkula and Tedzani hydropower stations. The World Bank pledged $200 million (about K146 billion) and a-yet-to-be identified financier plans to implement the project to solve the current energy woes.
Energy expert Grain Malunga, who is also former minister of Energy, Natural Resources and Mining, told Business News that if government is proceeding with the project, a dam should be constructed to sustain Shire River water flow during the dry season. He emphasised that issues of energy generation require planning that ensures sustainable power supply in relation to population growth and industrialisation rate. “Mpatamanga is a welcome project, but they should choose the right technology so that we do not face the same problems that we are facing with Nkula and Tedzani,” Malunga said.
Meanwhile, Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director John Kapito said coming up with another project on the same river raises questions. He said: “That river has had challenges such as siltation and low water levels that have ended up in producing inadequate electricity at Nkula and Tedzani. We need to identify other sources of energy or alternative hydropower sources like Ruo River because Shire River is becoming dry. We cannot continue building a white elephant on a river that is already challenged, that is a threat to that investment.
But Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining spokesperson Sangwani Phiri dismissed Cama and Malunga’s views, saying the Mpatamanga Hydropower Project should not be discredited based on the current water levels in the Shire Rivre, adding that it will solve energy challenges.
Mpatamanga Hydropower Station is a proposed 309 megawatt power plant that will be constructed on the Shire River. Currently a Norwegian engineering and designing consulting girm Multiconsult is conducting a Hydraulic Study and Environmental Flows Assessment.
(Source: The Nation Malawi, Tuesday, 22 January 2019)