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and private sources. It will represent the largest foreign direct investment in Malawi to date. Mpatamanga includes the construction of a main and regulating dam on the Shire River. It will provide power during peak demand hours and is expected to improve the reliability of the national electricity grid. The project is also expected to support electricity demand in sectors such as mining. “This new hydropower project is a game- changer for Malawi, capable of catalyzing transformative change in productive economic sectors such as mining, agri-business and tourism. As the country works on driving its economic development agenda, this new source of clean and reliable energy will help drive business growth, create jobs, and improve the lives of millions of Malawians,“ said Nathan Belete, World Bank Division Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The World Bank Group is supporting several
energy initiatives in Malawi. These include the Emergency Power Restoration Project to rehabilitate the Kapichira power station, the Mozambique-Malawi Regional Interconnector Project, and the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) project, which aims to expand electricity access.
Australia
AECOM appointed engineering services provider for Seqwater’s dam improvement program AECOM has been appointed as the dams engineering services provider for Seqwater’s Dam Improvement Program, continuing its long-standing partnership with South East Queensland’s bulk water authority. The appointment covers upcoming dam infrastructure projects and the current program, aimed at upgrading major gated dams including Wivenhoe, Somerset, and North Pine. AECOM will support key planning and design work for the Detailed Business Case (DBC) for both the Somerset and North Pine Dam Improvement Projects, as well as the Options Analysis (OA) for the Wivenhoe Dam upgrade. “Together with Seqwater, AECOM is committed
to ensuring South East Queensland’s dams can continue to withstand extreme weather events,” said Beverley Stinson, chief executive of AECOM’s global Water business. “Our teams are committed to ensuring the ongoing safety, resilience, and reliability of Queensland’s water supply systems using the full depth of our global capabilities, and we look forward to supporting Seqwater’s vision for a sustainable future and ensuring the communities we serve have access to clean, safe drinking water for generations to come.” “We are excited to continue our trusted partnership with Seqwater, a leader in delivering sustainable and innovative water solutions for South East Queensland,” said Mark McManamny, AECOM’s chief executive of the Australia and New Zealand region. “Our long-standing relationship with Seqwater has been pivotal in
6 | June 2025 |
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advancing other critical infrastructure projects for the bulk water supply authority, including for Hinze Dam and the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project.” Site works for the Somerset Dam upgrade are scheduled to begin in 2025. Initial strengthening works at North Pine Dam are expected to start this year, ahead of the full upgrade. Geotechnical investigations for the Wivenhoe Dam Options Analysis were completed in late 2024. Seqwater supplies bulk water to more than 3.8 million people in South East Queensland and owns and operates 26 dams. The Dam Improvement Program will upgrade the region’s three largest dams to meet current engineering and safety standards.
Colombia Partnership launched to boost sustainability of small-scale hydropower The Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA), the Center for Renewable Energy and Water Studies (CEERA), and the Association of Users of the Electric Power Service of Palmor de la Sierra (Electropalmor) have entered a new partnership to support sustainable small-scale hydropower development in Colombia. The agreement, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, focuses on using the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS), an internationally recognized certification system that promotes best practices in environmental, social, and governance areas. As part of the collaboration, the three
organizations will work to implement the HSS across CEERA-affiliated companies. The partnership began earlier this month with an assessment of Electropalmor’s small-scale hydropower project, with technical support from HSA. The goal is to demonstrate how the HSS can be used effectively in community-led energy projects. Beyond the initial project, the organizations aim
to secure funding to expand the model to other community hydropower initiatives in Colombia and internationally. They also plan to offer training and capacity-building programs to help local stakeholders develop sustainable energy projects. Colombia currently operates 143 small
hydropower plants, with more than 100 in development. Ensuring these projects are environmentally and socially responsible is seen as important for the country’s energy transition and community development. Joao Costa, Executive Director of HSA, said:
“The Hydropower Sustainability Standard is a key tool to ensure that hydropower projects are responsible to the environment and communities. We are excited to collaborate with CEERA and Electropalmor in promoting sustainable practices in Colombia.” Ángela María Sarmiento, Executive Director of CEERA, said: “This alliance reinforces our commitment to an energy model based on sustainability and the well-being of communities.
Working with HSA and Electropalmor will allow us to advance in the adoption of international standards and in the strengthening of local capacities.”
Sol Viviana Zapata Alfonso, Executive
Director of Electropalmor, said: “As an energy community, our goal is to ensure a reliable and sustainable energy supply. With this alliance, we advance in the certification of our project and in the generation of knowledge for other similar developments.”
HSA is also working with the Colombian government to promote the HSS framework and has led assessments of the 2,400 MW Ituango and 19.9 MW Chorreritas projects, both of which received Silver certification.
Madagascar
EDF signs agreement for Volobe hydroelectric project EDF has signed an agreement to develop, build, and operate a 120MW hydroelectric dam in Madagascar. The signing took place during the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron. Béatrice Buffon, EDF Group Executive
Director and CEO of EDF Renewables, signed the agreement with Amine Hiridjee, co-CEO of AXIAN Group, and Demba Diallo, Africa50 Development Director. The project, the Volobe dam, will be located in Tamatave, in the northeast of Madagascar. The Volobe dam is considered a priority infrastructure project by the Malagasy government. It is expected to produce 750GWh of electricity per year, representing about a third of the country’s current electricity production. The project aims to help decarbonise Madagascar’s electricity supply and strengthen its energy security. The project has backing from the Malagasy government, international donors, and a guarantee from the World Bank. It is being developed according to high environmental and social standards. Under the agreement, EDF will hold a 37.5%
stake in the project company, Compagnie Générale d’Hydroélectricité de Volobe (CGHV), alongside AXIAN Group (37.5%) and Africa50 (25%). EDF will manage the technical aspects of the project, leveraging its 70 years of experience in hydroelectric facilities to oversee both the development and operation phases. The Volobe dam is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2030. Madagascar’s national water and electricity company, JIRAMA, will then have access to competitively priced electricity, expected to supply around two million people as demand for energy grows. Commenting on the agreement, Béatrice Buffon said: “I am delighted to see EDF’s teams applying their experience in managing complex industrial projects to develop the Volobe hydroelectric project, which will provide decarbonised, reliable and competitive electricity. This project illustrates EDF’s vocation to support the energy transition of its public and private
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