Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station

Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station
Kapachira Falls including the Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station
Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Malawi
Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station
Map of Malawi showing the location of Kapichira HPP.
Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Africa
Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station
Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station (Africa)
Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Earth
Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station
Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Station (Earth)
CountryMalawi
LocationKapachira Falls, Chikwawa District, Southern Region
Coordinates15°53′45″S 34°45′14″E / 15.89583°S 34.75389°E / -15.89583; 34.75389
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Opening date2000
Construction costUS$153 million (Phase 1)
Owner(s)Government of Malawi
Operator(s)Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsShire River
Turbines4 x 32 MW
Installed capacity128 megawatts (172,000 hp)

The Kapichira Power Station is a hydroelectric power plant at the Kapachira Falls on the Shire River in Malawi. It has an installed capacity of 128 megawatts (172,000 hp), enough to power over 86,000 homes, with four 32 megawatts (43,000 hp) generating sets. The power station was developed in stages, with the first phase involving the installation of the first two 32 megawatts-generating turbines. Phase I of the power station was officially opened in September 2000.[1]

In January 2014, in a ceremony attended by the president of Malawi at that time, Joyce Banda, the second phase of the Kapichira hydropower project was switched on, doubling the hitherto 64 megawatts to the maximum capacity of 128 megawatts.[2]

  1. ^ Global Energy Observatory (15 April 2018). "Global Energy Observatory: Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Plant Malawi". Globalenergyobservatory.org. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  2. ^ HydroWorld (31 January 2014). "Malawi commissions Kapichira hydropower plant expansion". Hydroworld.com. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.