Agriculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing strategy requires enough energy supply—Minister Matola

Ambassador Hawa Ndilowe shakes hands with ESCOM CEO after the agreement.—Picture by Leonard Masauli, MANA

* As Mzuzu University signs a 20 megawatts power purchase agreement with Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM)

* MZUNI has demonstrated that universities can offer solutions to the country’s challenges as the demand for electricity is quite huge

By Leonard Masauli, MANA

For agriculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing (ATMM) strategy to bear fruits in the country, it requires enough energy supply, said Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola yesterday during a power purchase agreement signing ceremony between Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and Mzuzu University (MZUNI).

MZUNI has constructed a 20 megawatts (Mw) solar power farm plant at Choma worth US$20 million and has already signed another power deal to upgrade to €70 million for 50 megawatts which will all be sold to ESCOM’s national grid.

At the signing ceremony held at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, Energy Minister Matola commended MZUNI’s initiative, saying for the ATMM strategy to flourish it requires enough electricity to be able to drive manufacturing industries, agricultural production, robust tourism industry and mining.

“This signing ceremony is a significant milestone in the energy sector,” he said. “We have an ATMM strategy in the country and for it to work out, we need stable and reliable power to drive such initiatives.

“As a government, we shall create a conducive environment for more players to invest in the energy sector because this is a catalyst to the economic growth of our country.”

The Minister added that MZUNI has demonstrated that universities can offer solutions to the country’s challenges, saying the demand for electricity in Malawi is quite huge.

“The current generation capacity for the country remains 554.24Mw, which comprise 401.84Mw of hydro, 101Mw of solar and 51.4Mwof diesel power generators. Malawi also imports 8Mw from Zambia and Mozambique as cross-border traders and this adds up to 562.24Mw,” said the Minister.

On his part, ESCOM Chief Executive Officer, Kamkwamba Kumwenda said the MZUNI project will greatly offer an alternative to issues of blackouts and load shedding in the Northern Region areas.

“This project is so significant because we have been having challenges in power supply to the North,” he said. “Our line that we use, we call it the Eastern backbone is very old, and it’s wooden structures. Predominantly transmission is supposed to be on steel structures.

“But now, with the structures and the terrain, every other fortnight, we are having power outages to the north, making the Northern Region experience a lot of blackout and load shedding.

“So, MZUNI’s 20Mw is enough for the northern region,” said Kumwenda, adding that as per the MZUNI programme, the delivery time for the project is 2027 but ESCOM has requested them to move closer to 2026, saying the solar is not as complicated as hydro.

MZUNI Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wales Singini said the institution mooted out the idea to help the students have a practical feel of what they are learning in class, adding that they started with 5Mw and scaled up to 20Mw and they are now looking forward to 50Mw.

Present was Minister of Higher Education, Jessie Kabwila, who applauded MZUNI for the initiative, saying universities must offer solutions to the country’s problems unlike blaming politicians.

In a related development, Nyika Hydropower Group also signed a power purchase agreement with ESCOM for a 51Mw project where the company would like to sell their power to the national grid.

Nyika Hydropower Group chairperson, Eng. Graeme Watson said their project will give the North Region a stable and reliable power considering that most generation comes from the Southern where the equipment is aged and result in frequent power outages due to frequent maintenance.

“Nyika Hydropower will give people jobs and secondly, after the construction is complete, it will stabilise power supply in the area — hence leading to more development of businesses such as manufacturing as well as mining,” he said.

Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) Chief Executive Officer Henry Kachaje commended MZUNI and Nyika Hydropower for the initiatives, saying the development will ensure power stability in the country.

He further asked MZUNI to consider exploring wind power generation to reduce the country’s over-dependence on hydropower.