Malawi - Road to electrification

A process to deregulate the energy sector to allow independent power producers is on­going. The objective is to attract private investors to increase electricity production from 1,900 GWh to 3,580 GWh with­in the next decade. Some 6,000 GWh/year of technically feasible hydropower potential has been identified. Impressively, almost 100% of Ma­la­wi’s power generation comes from hydropower.

ANDRITZ HYDRO 

First contracts in Malawi date back to the early 1970s. ANDRITZ HYDRO delivered the complete electro-mechanical equipment for the Tedzani I, II and III hydropower plants on the Shire River, as well as for HPP Wovwe. For the Nukla B and Kapichira hydropower plants, also on the Shire River, ANDRITZ HYDRO delivered some hydro-mecha­nical equipment.

HPP Tedzani III

In 2016, the Electricity Supply Cor­po­ration of Malawi Limited (ESCOM) and ANDRITZ HYDRO signed a contract for rehabilitation, modernization and up­gra­­ding of the 51 MW Tedzani III hy­dro­power station. ANDRITZ HYDRO is responsible for a new control and SCADA system, new excitation, protection and synchronisation systems, as well as repair and replacement works on turbines and generators.

HPP Nkula A

A contract to rehabilitate and upgrade the 24 MW Nkula A hydropower station to 35.1 MW was awarded to ANDRITZ HYDRO, as leader of a consortium, by the Millennium Challenge Account – Malawi (MCA­M). The scope of supply for ANDRITZ HYDRO includes modernization of intake and draft tube gates, penstocks, installation of new turbine runners, new generators, mechanical and electrical auxiliary systems, as well as a new high voltage hybrid switch gear, and SCADA system. HPP Nkula A is expected to resume operations in mid­-2018.
Recently, a further contract for a Ge­neration Control & Monitoring Sys­tem was awarded to ANDRITZ HYDRO.