Govt powers Likoma, Chizumulu: 4 gensets commissioned, electricity to run all day
Malawi government on Monday commissioned four diesel-powered generators that will be generating electricity on Likoma and Chizumulu Islands, effectively ending a dark era of prolonged power blackouts and load shedding on the two islands.
The supplier of the gensets, Clifford Kawinga of Creck Hardware, installed the generators that will produce 1.760 megawatts (MW), under the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (Marep).
The company was awarded the K952 million contract to implement the project by the Marep.
Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Bintony Kutsaira, presided over the commissioning ceremony amid great excitement and expectation among the people of Likoma and Chizumulu islands.
There will be two generators of 560 kilowatts (KW) each on Likoma while Chizumulu, will have two generators of 320 KW each.
The generators have replaced a small genset that produces just 250 KW, a development that is likely to bring huge changes on the two Islands where electricity is heavily rationed and affects delivery of essential services.
Kawinga said they have brought in big generators of 750kva and 450kva, right from the manufacturer in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sharjah, to Likoma and Chizumulu islands.
Said Kawinga: “Before the generators came in the country, we took six engineers to Sharjah for factory acceptance test to inspect if the generators were being produced according to their specifications, and we also took another team of six engineers for training on how they can use the generators effectively and efficiently.”
In July this year, residents of Likoma took to the streets, protesting the perpetual blackouts. Likoma and Chizumulu islands are cut off from the national electricity grid due to their geographical position.
This so called district should be reversed to be part of Nkhata Bay District village. What a sham to Muluzi who due to lust for power upgraded the 1,400 populated island to a district.
The comfort I get is that theff of diesel will not be easy at Lokoma.
All the best!
At least kumudzi kwathu tikhala ndi magetsi odalirika. Thank you government for considering the people of Likoma. Likoma was always on Bingu’s priority areas. We have piped water because of Bingu.
Are the gensets green? Why then are you stealing from drivers paying for pollution fee yet the govt is at the fore front polluting.
Kuba basi DPP. Kusolola. Go ask Kagame. Malawi at 50 chakuti in reverse gear.
I ? The Leadership of this country.
Solar ayi koma investing in genset , kaya ndiye abapo zingati apumbwa amenewa.
Heheheh. Positioning for the rerun
I don’t think this is a sustainable solution. The government should have considered at least a hybrid solution, involving wind/ solar/ floating solar, etc.
This is a very good development, but still why going for this technology when we can have a cleaner Technology. Malawi as a Sab Saharan Country never have a shortage of Sun light. Solar Energy is the best solution for these Islands.
With Such a budget of close to 200 Million Malawi Kwacha as a Capital Expenditure if we add operational Costs for these 4 huge Generators for just a Month we can have a very good Solar Farm enough for these Small Islands
Kusolora kwachulukitsa pa Nyasaland pano. Nobody cares at all!!