An updated Old Town Substation in Lilongwe was formally given to the Honorable Sam Kawale, Minister of Agriculture, on behalf of the Malawi government, by Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). A major shift occurred in Malawi’s energy sector as a result of this occurrence. On March 6, 2024, the inauguration marked a major step forward in Malawi’s endeavors to upgrade its energy infrastructure and meet its growing electricity demands.

The capacity of the Old Town Substation has been increased from 37 MW to 50 MW, and there are 21,000 additional users. Within its sphere of influence, the project will help reduce the backlog of new power connection applications in the Lilongwe and Mchinji districts.

The handover ceremony was significant, and the Honorable Kawale and Dr. Tanaka both stressed the success of the substation project, its positive effects, and the promising future of Malawi’s energy sector, all of which would have far-reaching implications for many people. The transformational impact of the power station in addressing the nation’s energy demands and furthering Malawi’s 2063 plan for sustainable, inclusive, and reliable development were also highlighted, and the parties involved reaffirmed their faith in the long-term relationship between JICA and Malawi. Better energy accessibility, fewer power outages, stronger capacity building, and brighter socioeconomic prospects would all come from the power station’s installation in Malawi.

The program received $19 million from the Japanese government through JICA and $2 million from the Malawian government.

At the Kanengo substation, a similar project is being carried out at the moment, with the expectation of an 85 MW increase to 160 MW. The old town and Kanengo substations aim to expand the electrical program by connecting 81,000 to the grid.