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132kV Eastern Backbone Overhead line Project

1. Construction of a 293km 132kV line from the 400/132kV Nkhoma Substation in the Central Region through 132/33kV Nanjoka Substation (Salima), 132/66/33kV Nkhotakota Substation, and 132/33kV Dwangwa Substation to 132/66/33/11kV Chintheche Substation in the Northern Region. 2. Construction of an 83km 132kV line from Nkhotakota substation to Chinyama substation to replace the existing 66kV line which is on wooden structures and uses very small conductor leading to high losses and poor quality of supply. Among other customers, Chinyama substation supplies Shayona Cement Company who have applied for additional load of 6MW and it is impossible to supply them with the existing line, hence the need for upgrading. Chinyama substation will be upgraded from 66/33kV to 132/33kV. 3. Construction of a 43 km 132kV line from Chinyama substation to Kanyika and construction of a 25MVA, 132/33kV substation at Kanyika to supply an 18 MW Niobium mine. The substation will also be connected to the existing 33kV network in the area to improve power quality and operational flexibility. 4. Upragding of Nanjoka 132/33kV substation capacity from 15 MVA to 50 MVA to accommodate a 22MW water pumping project from Lake Malawi in Salima to Lilongwe City. The substation is currently loaded up to more than 80% of its capacity at peak. Apart from the water pumping project, the substation will also supply several other step loads from customers who applied for power such as the Salima Sugar factory which will require 12MW additional load from Nanjoka substation. Apart from the JCM 60MW Solar PV plant which is connected to this substation, the substation is also earmarked to be the connection point for two more independent power producers namely, a 20MW Solar PV plant by EGENCO and a 75MW Multi-Fuel Powered generation thermal plant by AZA.

This project aims to upgrade the existing Transmission network which carries power from the Southern to the Central and Northern Regions. This network can no longer sustain growth in Power and Energy demand due to its current condition.As one of the measures to increase power transfer capacity and propel economic growth, a project to construct a new single circuit 132kV Transmission Line on the Eastern Corridor of the country from the Central to the Northern Region to replace an existing single circuit Wooden Pole 132kV Transmission line has been initiated.

Start date: 2020-01-01 Due date: 2027-09-30 Approval date: 2023-01-01
101,000,000.00   USD
Total Funding
2023-08-02
Date Created
2023-08-02
Last updated
Construction
Project Type
Preparation
Project Status
Absence of a clear feasibility study Unrealistic budgets Limited assessment of environmental impacts Limited assessment of social impacts Limited assessment of economic impacts Weak stakeholder engagement Change of scope Cost overruns and budget inflation Lack of transparency in procurement processes Limited competition Favoritism in bidding processes Political interference Weak accountability mechanisms Frequent project delays (time overruns) Environmental violations Social violations Lack of maintenance plans Under-utilization of project Abandonment of project

Locations

Description Malawi country
District Lilongwe
Region Central
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Budget

Description Construction of 132kV overhead line from Nkhoma-Chintheche
Amount USD 101,000,000.00
Start Date 2023-11-01
End Date 2026-06-30
Max Extent Date 2026-06-30
Duration In Days 972
Party ID Malawi Government-Lilongwe-MW
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Project Funding

Party European Investment Bank (EIB)-Luxembourg-LU
Amount USD 101,000,000.00
Description Construction of 132kV Overhead line from Nkhoma to Chintheche OHL
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Environment

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Completion

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Timelines

Asset Life Time

Start Date 2024-12-30
End Date 2074-12-30
Max End Date 2080-12-30

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