Banda’s refocused diplomacy bears fruit for Malawi’s power sector

President Joyce Banda’s efforts to woo private investors and repair ties with neighbouring countries are revitalising Malawi’s power sector, with a new coal-fired plant on the cards and the revival of plans for an interconnection with Mozambique, writes Thalia Griffiths. Australian private power developer Intra Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government for a 120MW coal-fired power station at Chipoka, east of Lilongwe. Electricity generated will be sold to the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) and other third parties under separate power purchase agreements and transmitted and distributed by Escom under a wheeling agreement.