The Electricity Generation Company (Malawi) Limited (EGENCO) has held discussions with Nkhotakota District Council officials and local leaders about the proposed Chasombo-Chizuma Hydropower Project, which would generate 100MW of electricity from the Bua River inside Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.
Nkhotakota District Council’s Director of Planning and Development, Mathias Bulugama, welcomed the consultations and praised the company for seeking input from local stakeholders early in the process. “Your engagement with us stakeholders demonstrates real commitment. This project has the potential to transform not only Nkhotakota but also Malawi as a whole,” he said.
If completed, the Chasombo-Chizuma scheme would be the first major hydropower station in the central region of Malawi, outside the Shire River basin where over 90% of the country’s generation currently takes place. EGENCO has committed US$1.7 million (around MWK 3 billion) to a feasibility study, which is expected to conclude by June 2026. The study will examine technical, economic, environmental and social factors.
Hydropower remains the backbone of Malawi’s energy supply, with most capacity concentrated on the Shire River. EGENCO has said the Chasombo-Chizuma project could diversify the country’s generation sources and improve energy security. Past studies of the Bua River identified two possible sites, Chasombo and Chizuma, with capacities of around 40MW each, and suggested the option of combining them into a larger facility.
EGENCO’s current installed capacity is reported at just under 445MW, the majority of which comes from hydropower. Alongside hydro developments, the company is also pursuing solar projects, including the Nkhotakota and Nanjoka solar power stations.
