By Linda Kwanjana
In line with the Government of Malawi’s plans to develop domestic sources of electricity generation, the World Bank has been approving alot of money to improve electricity generation in the country but despite the assistance nothing tangible has been happening.
Previous governments turned Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) as a cash cow.
Big funding for an energy sector project that was supposed to in help in improving the capacity of the systems to transmit and reach consumers using improved technology were injected in but they were all eaten through dubious procurement processes laid down especially by the recent past Government of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Malawi’s current national generation capacity is 286 megawatts (MW), 20 per cent of which is lost in the transmission and distribution processes, yet peak demand is currently estimated at about 330 MW.
Demand has been growing at about five per cent annually, with only 12 per cent of the population having access to electricity, mostly in urban centres.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE WITH MAREP 9
The sweet news is that under the leadership of Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera Government through Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP), phase 9 has already connected 41, 400 households in 207 sites.
According to Deputy Director of Energy, Francisco Chingoli, MAREP 9 is so far progressing well.
“So far, MAREP 9 is progressing very well we targeted 460 sites but as of now, we have completed and commissioned 207 sites, and we believe that by end of October we will finish all the sites that we targeted,” said Chingoli.
Chingoli said that with MAREP, Malawi will not be the same economically.
He said the good news is that this program is being done in each and every district and that each and every constituency is also benefitting.
Chingoli has since commended President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for supporting the programme.
” The President has been going in different areas to commission MAREP 9 sites,” He said.
Chingoli said, where there is electricity, a lot of developments follows such as barbarshops, welding shops, maize meals.
Meanwhile , Chingoli has assured Malawians and the general public that MAREP 9 will be completed by October this year, ready commerce MAREP Ten.
Initially, Marep 9 was estimated to cost K40 billion in 2022, but due to devaluation of the kwacha and other factors, it was revised to K70 billion.
