Page 15 - AfrElec Week 36 2022

AfrElec HYDRO AfrElec

Malawi partners with Scatec

and EDF to co-develop 350-MW

hydropower plant

MALAWI MALAWI’S government, Norwegian renewable 55% of the project. EDF will own 27.5%, while
energies developer, Scatec and EDF of France on Scatec has an ownership of 14%, and the venture
Tuesday (September 6) signed a binding con- partners the remaining 13.5%. The government
tract agreement to build a 350-MW hydropower of Malawi will own 30%, and the World Bank’s
plant in Malawi. International Finance Corporation (IFC) will
The three parties and other partners will hold 15% of the total project shareholding.
co-develop the Mpatamanga project on Shire Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu, IFC regional
River, Malawi’s largest, according to a release by director for Eastern Africa said the investment
Scatec. has the potential to grow Malawi’s electricity
The public-private partnership deal con- infrastructure and connect thousands of rural
cludes the selection process undertaken by the and remote households while also spurring
government to competitively select a private green, inclusive and resilient growth.
sector partner to finance, build, and operate the Scatec chief executive officer, Terje Pilskog
plant. noted: “This is a significant development in the
Composed of two plants -- a 309MW peak- realisation of the Mpatamanga project. We are
ing facility and a 41MW downstream plant -- excited to build on our hydro portfolio in Africa
the project is expected to contribute to reducing – and are proud to have finalised development
energy shortage and enhancing energy security plans alongside our partners. The country of
in the southcentral African country. Malawi will receive a significant investment into
“The 350 MW Mpatamanga Hydropower its power sector, which in turn will stand to ben-
Project will not only double the installed capac- efit a major portion of the nation’s population.”
ity of hydropower in Malawi but also improve Béatrice Buffon, EDF senior executive
the power supply security, provide opportuni- vice-president, international division, said the
ties for increased renewable energy generation group looks forward to bringing its technical
capacity in the country and contribute to the expertise in hydropower projects and strong
controlling of the flow of the Shire River down- environmental and social commitment to
stream the power plant,” said Minister of Energy, Malawi.
Ibrahim Matola. “The signing of this partnership strengthens
“The [government of Malawi] is indebted to EDF’s position in Africa, a strategic region for
its partners in achieving this milestone which is our development,” Buffon said.
a major step in the development of this project,” “This competitive project will significantly
he said. enhance the access to electricity in Malawi and
Scatec, and its venture partners British Inter- is fully in line with EDF’s ambition to build a net
national Investment (BII) and Norfund, and zero energy future with electricity and innovative
EDF are majority shareholders who will own solutions that drive economic development.”™

Week 36 08•September•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P15