* The site will include access roads, boreholes, and a school, which will be completed by March 2027
* A third village at Kambalame in Neno District will be built in 2027 for people living in the future reservoir area
By Clinton Kesten Mwanyopa, Malawi News Agency (MANA)
The resettlement compensation arrangement of the construction of the 350 megawatts (MW) Mpatamanga hydropower storage project has completed 28 out of 48 resettlement houses at Chaswanthaka and Mpindo in Blantyre and Neno districts, with relocation set for December 2026.
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Mpatamanga Hydropower Project Limited (MHPL) is developing the 350MW hydropower storage project on the Shire River between Blantyre and Neno districts which will be the largest power plant in Malawi once completed.
MHPL Chief Executive Officer, Ian Peter Price says implementation of the resettlement programme for people living in the construction’s path, is on track at Chaswanthaka and Mpindo villages.
He added that T he remaining 20 houses are still under construction and that relocation will start once construction of the villages is completed.
He maintained that the construction “will be done well before main construction of dams, power stations and transmission lines scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027 after Financial Close in October 2027”.
In addition to houses, Price said the site will include access roads, boreholes, and a school, which will be completed by March 2027.
A third village at Kambalame in Neno District will be built in 2027 for people living in the future reservoir area.
Site of the project along the Shire River
Price said the 350MW project comprises two dams and two power stations with reservoir storage to generate 1,544 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually and will double Malawis installed generation capacity.
On milestones, he said the project secured a US$350 million grant from the World Banks International Development Association (IDA), installed a new bridge at Mpatamanga Gorge in April 2026, and launched international procurement for main contractors in September 2026.
The project is being developed by Government of Malawi, EDF power solutions a French energy firm, SN Malawi BV a firm owned by TotalEnergies, British International Investment and Norfund, and International Finance Corporation (IFC), with support from World Bank Group and European Union (EU).
Reacting to the progress, energy expert Dr. Grain Malunga said while the Mpatamanga hydropower project will significantly boost supply, Malawi still needs more power for mining projects, noting that the existing plants on the Shire River face environmental pressures from deforestation that reduce generation capacity through siltation.
“Availability of power from Mpatamanga is expected to be 50MW for 24/7 and may be 300MW for about nine hours. We still need more power for mining projects,” Malunga said.
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