In a move set to redefine Malawi’s energy future and economic ambitions, the World Bank has greenlit a $350 million grant to jumpstart the Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project (MHSP)—a megaproject hailed as a game-changing cornerstone in the country’s development agenda. Once complete, and with private financing in place, MHSP is expected to unleash 1,544 gigawatt-hours of clean, renewable energy annually—lighting up over a million households and supercharging industries from mining to agribusiness.
With a staggering $1.5 billion total investment on the line—making it the largest foreign direct investment in Malawi’s history—the MHSP isn’t just an energy project; it’s an economic power play. Developed as a public-private partnership, the deal brings together global heavyweights like Electricité de France, British International Investment, Norfund, and Total Energies, all selected through a rigorous international bidding process. As the twin dams rise over the Shire River, the project promises to not only stabilize Malawi’s fragile power grid but also energize its booming sectors, create thousands of jobs, and catapult the nation into a new era of energy-driven prosperity. “This project will secure long-term energy independence and unlock inclusive, lasting growth,” declared Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola. “It’s the engine of a new Malawi.”
