The World Bank’s board has approved a $350 million grant to support the Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project in Malawi, a key initiative aimed at boosting the country’s power generation capacity.
The project is set to provide electricity to over 1 million new households and create thousands of jobs, significantly contributing to the country’s development.
With an estimated total cost exceeding $1.5 billion, the Mpatamanga project will be the largest foreign direct investment in Malawi’s history. It is a public-private partnership, with the consortium leading the project consisting of Electricité de France, SN Malawi BV (owned by British International Investment, Norfund, and TotalEnergies).
The hydropower project will include the construction of two dams along the Shire River, increasing Malawi’s installed hydropower capacity by 358 megawatts—doubling the country’s current capacity. This development is expected to play a critical role in addressing Malawi’s energy challenges.