By Khumbo Kaliwo
Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Janet Banda has said Malawi still faces severe energy poverty despite having abundant natural resources that could transform the energy landscape.
According to Banda, the country has one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world, currently around 25 percent.
Speaking during an Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) and power Sector Coordination Pre-Lab meeting at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, Banda called upon stakeholders in the energy sector to delve deeper into the issues and challenges identified in the prelab discussions and craft sustainable solutions.
“Our energy sector must be ready to meet the rising electricity demand that will accompany economic growth,” Banda said Director of Electricity in the Ministry of Energy, Million Mafuta, said though there are challenges in the energy sector, the country is still on track in terms of electricity generation.
“Electricity generation is at 561 megawatts. We need more generation, yes, but we need also to look at the issue of demand that was projected,” Mafuta said.
He added that the country heavily relies on private partners in electricity generation and that there is a need to put in place a mechanism of financing power generation strategic projects.
“We need to capacitate Egenco, for example, to be able to erect power plants for us,” Mafuta added.
Country delivery lead for Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) Collen Zalengera said Malawi has the potential to unlock the energy sector if discussions and plans are put into use.
“Plans are plans but if they are not implemented, nothing will happen,” Zalengera said.
The Malawi Implementation Plan seeks to increase access to electricity to 50 percent by 2030 and ensure that energy generation keeps pace with demand.
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