Kam’mwamba power plant project on course

By Lusayo Singogo

Energy Generation Company (EGENCO) has said the construction of a 300 MegaWatts (MW) Kam’mwamba coal-fired power plant in Neno district is on track, saying the company was currently seeking a consultant to redo a feasibility study for the project.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Senior Public Relations Officer (SPRO) for EGENCO, Moses Gwaza said the company took over the project in November, 2019 and needed a fresh feasibility study since the first study was done long time back.

He said the company was registering progress on the project which is expected to reduce the country’s power supply challenges.

“Currently, we are in the process of acquiring the services of a consultant to do feasibility study of the project. As you may be aware, there is a feasibility study that was already done some time back. 

“However, with passage of time and changes in technology, we need to reconfirm the earlier study before we embark on the project. Other than that, we have also been checking the quality and supplies of coal in the country and Mozambique,” Gwaza said.

The SPRO added that EGENCO could have moved with more speed but being a public entity, it needs to follow all procurement procedures and this is posing some delays in hiring the consultant.

Public Relations Officer for the Department of Energy Affairs, Saidi Banda said the project was very crucial for the country as it would diversify energy sources in order to solve the current power deficit. 

“More than 90 per cent of our power comes from Hydro stations on Shire River and because of climate change which was causing low water levels; the power plants are not generating energy to the maximum capacity. As such, coal is one of the alternatives in addition to gas, geothermal, wind and solar to solve this problem.” he said.

EGENCO is implementing a 20MW solar project at Nanjoka in Salima and a 1.5MW solar project at Likoma and Chizumulu Islands.  

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