Malawi and Tanzania signed an agreement for the development of a 180-MW hydroelectric power station on the Songwe River. The construction of the hydroelectric power station is part of the Songwe Basin Development Program (SRBDP) between the two countries.
The initiative involves the irrigation of arable land in each country and the control of water flow in the regions downstream of the basin.
At an estimated cost of $829 million, the project will not only provide power for both the countries but it will also provide water for two cities with 86,000 inhabitants and 36 neighboring villages.
“This integrated cross-border program is part of the strategic priorities of the African Development Bank, which aims to build communities resilient to climate change,” said Andrew Mwaba, the resident representative of the AfDB in Malawi.