Atupele contented with Malawi Rural Electrification phase seven

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Atupele Muluzi has expressed satisfaction with the progress of Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (Marep) phase seven.

According to Muluzi, government through this project intend to increase connectivity to 30 percent by 2030.

“ The figure might look small but people should know that the current connectivity is at two percent and that increase will significantly improve the country’s GDP as economic activities will be enhanced,” said Muluzi.

Speaking last Tuesday at Chiunjiza Trading Centre in Traditional Authority (T/A) Masula in Lilongwe, said Marep is bringing power to the rural people and also helping to reduce rural to urban migration.

“I am happy with the progress of Marep phase seven. This is really showing that Malawi is progressing. This place is in the remotest and for people to have electricity here, it has helped them,” he said.

Muluzi said rural electrification is helping a lot of rural masses, which will in turn improve their economic well-being.

Under Marep seven, government is targeting 82 trading centres throughout the country and 52 additional centres.

Muluzi said it is government’s wish to electrify 30 percent of rural areas in 15 years from the current electricity penetration of two percent.

Malawi has the lowest electricity connectivity in the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) region and efforts to increase generation capacity through independent power producers stalled due to tariff challenges.

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