Atlas Energy Ltd bankrolls Blantyre Press Club workshop on climate chage

Atlas Energy Limited, a Malawian company with interest in solar power generation, has given Blantyre Press Club (BPC) K1 million ahead of the club’s training workshop on effects of climate change on food security and environment.

Speaking when he made the donation on Tuesday, the company’s Chairperson Konrad Buckle said they would like to team with media in raising awareness on the impact of climate change in the country.

According to him, Malawi, just like other countries, is vulnerable to climate change and this has affected agriculture production which the backbone of the country’s economy.

“The impacts of climate change have been manifested through intense rainfall, changing rainfall patterns, floods, droughts and prolonged dry spells.

“We therefore find the forthcoming workshop on climate change as necessary and timely. We also realize the connection between tobacco production, energy generation and climate change, hence the donation to the Club,” said Buckle, who is also the Chairperson of Nyasa Manufacturing, which is in tobacco business.

Buckle also said their ambitious solar power energy will need support and concerted effort in addressing the impacts of climate change in the country.

Atlas Energy is also one of the local companies that participated and marketed its projects at the first ever Malawi Investment Forum (MIF) held last week in Lilongwe.

During the forum, which attracted over 200 delegates from 31 countries, the company received a commitment from international partners from the USA and Germany to invest in an $80 million solar power project to generate 40 to 50 megawatts of electricity by next year.

The venture will produce electricity at the plant from where Escom will be tapping power into the national grid.

In his remarks, the Press Club’s President Blessings Kanache hailed the company for the financial support and commitment to addressing the impact of climate change.

Kanache, who was flanked by his General Secretary Simeon Shumba and other members, said the training workshop will help journalists take stock of their responsibilities and commitment on issues to with climate change and food security.

“We need to be conversant with issues of climate of change. Recently, the country experienced massive floods and this has affected food security both at household and national levels.

“Climate changes already affect a large population of Malawians who depend on rain-fed agriculture and other natural resource based livelihoods. We are therefore organizing this workshop to look at how best we can assist in addressing the impacts of climate change on food production and environment in general,” said Kanache.

Blantyre Press Club comprises scribes from the southern and eastern regions.

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