By Cassim Aubi (Zodiak) & Wonder Msiska (Times Group) in Dar es Salaam -Tanzania

Malawi and Tanzania are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see the two countries share energy resources through the Songwe Dam Project and the 400kV Tanzania-Malawi (TAMA) Interconnector.

This was disclosed during the opening of a three-day meeting in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, August 9 2023.

Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Energy, Felchesmi Mramba, said Malawi and Tanzania can work together to produce and share energy resources for the benefit of the two countries.

Co-Chair of the meeting, acting Director in the Ministry of Energy for Malawi, Joseph Kalowekamo, said Malawi is considering alternative sources of energy to the Shire River-dependent hydro energy, which caters for about 90 percent of Malawi's power requirement.

He said this at the start of the Malawi -Tanzania Inter-Governmental Meeting of technical officials on the Energy Sector Cooperation in Dar es Salaam.

The two governments are expected to sign the MoU aimed at increasing electricity power supply in the two countries.

Mramba and Kalowekamo said the MoU will see the two countries mutually benefiting from the Songwe Hydro Power and the TAMA Interconnector projects the two countries are expected to jointly implement.

The technical teams comprise of officials from Tanzania's Ministry of Energy, Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), Malawi's ministry of Energy and the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM).

The potential realization of TAMA power interconnector will offer Malawi access to Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP), which comprises countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan.

This interconnection will enhance Malawi’s ability to leverage multiple power pools and foster cross-border electricity exchange, ultimately bolstering energy security and stability in the region.

The TAMA Interconnector will run from Nkhoma in Malawi to Tanzania through Songwe.