DAMS, HYDROPOWER PLANTS AND FLOOD MANAGEMENT
1.    Lower Songwe Dam, Hydropower Plant and Transmission Lines Project
Investment Cost
USD 851.1 Million
The Lower Songwe Dam, Hydropower Plant and Transmission Lines Project is the flagship investment under the SRBDP and represents one of the most transformative transboundary infrastructure projects in Southern Africa. The project is designed as a multipurpose investment that simultaneously addresses energy security, flood control, irrigation development, water supply and climate resilience.
Capacity
•    RCC Gravity Dam with height of 118 metres 
•    Reservoir storage capacity of 330 million cubic metres 
•    Catchment area of 3,559 km² 
•    Main Hydropower Plant capacity of 175 MW 
•    Small Hydropower Plant capacity of 5.2 MW 
•    Total installed generation capacity of 180.2 MW 
•    Annual electricity generation of approximately 686 GWh 
•    Approximately 86 km of 132 kV transmission lines 
•    Flood protection for more than 82,000 people 
•    Water supply services for over 460,000 people 
•    Irrigation water for approximately 6,200 hectares of agricultural land. 

Key Interventions
•    Construction of a multipurpose storage dam. 
•    Development of hydropower generation facilities. 
•    Construction of transmission lines and substations. 
•    Flood management infrastructure. 
•    Reservoir management systems. 
•    Climate-resilient water resources infrastructure. 
•    Regional power interconnection between Tanzania and Malawi. 

2.    Designing Middle Songwe Dam and Hydropower Plant 
Investment Cost: SD 2 million
Strategic Objective
To prepare comprehensive technical, environmental, social, financial and institutional documentation required for the future development of the Middle Songwe Dam and Hydropower Plant (150 MW) as part of the long-term integrated development of the Songwe River Basin.

Capacity
•    Preparation of detailed engineering designs for a future multipurpose dam. 
•    Assessment of additional hydropower generation potential within the Songwe River Basin. 
•    Identification of additional water storage capacity to support irrigation, domestic water supply and climate resilience. 
•    Development of investment-ready documentation to facilitate financing and implementation. 
•    Strengthening the long-term water regulation system within the Songwe River Basin. 

Key Interventions
•    Updating and refinement of feasibility studies. 
•    Detailed topographical, geological, geotechnical and hydrological investigations. 
•    Preparation of detailed engineering designs and tender documents. 
•    Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). 
•    Resettlement Action Planning (RAP), where applicable. 
•    Economic and financial analyses. 
•    Climate resilience and dam safety assessments. 
•    Preparation of procurement and implementation strategies. 
•    Development of financing and investment options. 
•    Stakeholder consultations and transboundary coordination. 

Expected Outcomes
•    Availability of bankable and investment-ready project documentation. 
•    Increased readiness for mobilization of development finance and private sector investment. 
•    Improved long-term regulation and management of water resources in the Songwe River Basin. 
•    Expansion of future renewable energy generation capacity. 
•    Enhanced water security for agriculture, domestic use and industry. 
•    Strengthened flood management and climate adaptation measures. 
•    Creation of opportunities for future regional power trade and economic growth. 
•    Contribution to the realization of the Songwe River Basin Shared Vision 2050. 

Contribution to Basin Development
The Middle Songwe Dam is envisaged as a strategic follow-on investment to the Lower Songwe Dam and Hydropower Plant. Together, the two facilities would establish a cascade system for water storage, hydropower generation, flood management and irrigation development, thereby maximizing the socio-economic and environmental benefits derived from the shared waters of the Songwe River Basin and supporting sustainable development in both Malawi and Tanzania.

3.    Lower Songwe River Tanzania Drainage System
Investment Cost: USD 19.56 Million
Capacity
•    Development of climate-resilient drainage infrastructure serving flood-prone agricultural areas in the Lower Songwe River Basin. 
•    Enhanced drainage and flood management system integrated with irrigation development and flood protection measures. 

Key Interventions
•    Construction and rehabilitation of primary, secondary and tertiary drainage canals. 
•    Development of water control and flood regulation structures. 
•    Land development, levelling and drainage improvement works. 
•    River training and erosion control measures. 
•    Construction of access roads and associated drainage infrastructure. 
•    Establishment of operation and maintenance systems for drainage facilities. 

Expected Outcomes
•    Reduced flooding and waterlogging of agricultural land. 
•    Increased agricultural productivity and cropping intensity. 
•    Improved climate resilience of communities and farming systems. 
•    Enhanced protection of settlements, infrastructure and productive assets. 
•    Improved water management and drainage efficiency. 
•    Increased household incomes and livelihood security.

4.    Lower Songwe River Malawi Drainage System
Investment Cost: USD 23.125 Million
Capacity
•    Modern integrated drainage and water management infrastructure for agricultural and flood-prone areas in Karonga District. 
•    Improved flood regulation and land drainage systems supporting climate-resilient agricultural development. 

Key Interventions
•    Construction of primary and secondary drainage networks. 
•    Development of water management and flood control structures. 
•    Land drainage, reclamation and levelling works. 
•    Construction of embankments and erosion protection measures. 
•    Improvement of water conveyance and drainage efficiency systems. 
•    Establishment of institutional arrangements for operation and maintenance. 

Expected Outcomes
•    Significant reduction of flood damage and waterlogging. 
•    Increased agricultural production and food security. 
•    Improved resilience of local communities to climate change and extreme weather events. 
•    Enhanced protection of public infrastructure and productive land. 
•    Improved water resources management and environmental sustainability. 
•    Increased employment opportunities and household incomes. 
•    Strengthened socio-economic development in the Lower Songwe Basin.

5.    Flood Early Warning and Monitoring Systems
a)    Lower Songwe Floodplain Early Warning and Response System 
Investment Cost :USD0.770 million
Capacity
•    Established and operationalised an integrated flood monitoring, forecasting, and early warning system in the Lower Songwe Floodplain by strengthening hydrological and meteorological data collection, analysis, and dissemination mechanisms.
•    Enhanced preparedness and response capacity of vulnerable communities, local authorities, and disaster management institutions through training, awareness programmes, contingency planning, and simulation exercises.
•    Strengthened transboundary coordination and information sharing between Tanzania and Malawi for timely flood risk communication, emergency response, and disaster risk reduction within the Songwe River Basin.

Key Interventions
•    Establish and rehabilitate river gauging stations, rainfall monitoring stations, and telemetry systems for real-time data collection.
•    Design and operationalise flood forecasting models, data management platforms, and warning dissemination protocols.
•    Train local communities, disaster management committees, and volunteers on flood preparedness, evacuation procedures, and emergency response.
•    Deploy SMS alerts, sirens, radio broadcasts, mobile applications, and community notice systems to ensure timely communication of flood warnings.
•    Develop contingency plans, conduct simulation exercises, and enhance coordination among SONGWECOM, local governments, disaster management agencies, and community structures.

Expected Outcomes
•    Reduced Loss of Lives and Property from Flood Events
•    Improved Preparedness and Resilience of Floodplain Communities
•    Enhanced Transboundary Cooperation Between Tanzania and Malawi
•    Increased Availability and Reliability of Hydrological and Meteorological Data
•    Reduced Economic Losses and Disruptions to Livelihoods
b)    Hydrometeorological Monitoring System 

Investment cost :USD 0.425 million
Capacity
•    Strengthened the collection, processing, and management of hydrological and meteorological data across the Songwe River Basin through the installation and modernisation of monitoring infrastructure.
•    Improved the accuracy and timeliness of weather, climate, and water resource information for decision-making, planning, and disaster risk management.
•    Enhanced the capacity of basin institutions and technical personnel in hydrometeorological monitoring, data analysis, forecasting, and information dissemination.
•    Established an integrated basin-wide hydrometeorological information system that supports transboundary water resources management and climate resilience.

Key Interventions
•    Installation, rehabilitation, and automation of hydrological and meteorological monitoring stations, including river gauging stations, rainfall stations, weather stations, and telemetry systems.
•    Development of a centralised hydrometeorological data management and information-sharing platform for real-time data acquisition, storage, analysis, and dissemination.
•    Capacity building for technical staff and institutions on monitoring equipment operation, maintenance, data quality assurance, forecasting, and reporting.
•    Development and implementation of hydrometeorological forecasting and information dissemination services, including regular bulletins, alerts, and decision-support tools for stakeholders.

Expected Outcomes
•    An upgraded and operational network of automated hydrological and meteorological monitoring stations established across the Songwe River Basin.
•    A functional basin-wide hydrometeorological database and information management platform providing real-time and historical data.
•    Technical personnel from SONGWECOM, Tanzania, and Malawi are trained and equipped to manage monitoring systems and generate reliable forecasts.
•    Regular hydrometeorological forecasts, bulletins, and early warning information produced and disseminated to decision-makers, communities, and sector stakeholders