Malawi ignoring equally viable energy alternatives-Expert
A Lilongwe-based energy expert, Edgar Bayani, has come flat out in decrying the country’s failure to generate more energy for it citizenry saying there are “equally viable sources” of energy within that are immensely being ignored.
Bayani, who is executive director of Community Energy Malawi, has said in reaction to the State of the Nation (Sona) by President Lazarus Chakwera, as far as the energy sector is concerned, that the President’s address “missed the opportunity to postulate a candid vision to accelerate access to clean electricity for Malawians based on the Tonse Alliance promises.”
Bayani said Malawi was still greatly obsessed with “big” energy projects while casting a blind eye on “equally viable alternatives.”
Said Bayani: “Despite recognizing that only 18% of Malawians access the grid, the SONA lacked the killer punch to demonstrate its commitment to SDG 7: Increasing access to clean energy for all by 2030. While the President’s creation of a stand-alone Ministry of Energy is a welcome development, the same however has not prominently featured in the SONA in a way that reflects the “Golden Thread that connects all sectors” nature of the energy sector.
“Energy is sandwiched in the one page of Infrastructure Access. The only routes to accelerate access mentioned in the SONA are the interconnection to Southern Africa Power Pool (SAAP) by 2022, 60MW Solar Project in Salima, and securing investors for 360MW Mpatamanga Hydro Project.”
Bayani said most of the energy projects are simply on paper with no hope of coming to fruition soon.
He said, among others, the Salima Project which was launched years back has just a plaque in existence.
“The free connections to electricity are not mentioned even though the president has candidly signaled an interest to develop rural areas and “inspire new generation of Malawians”. Also conspicuously missing are key reform recommendations in the Energy policy like, Decentralizing Ministry of Energy and restructuring of Malawi Rural Electrification Fund to among others create a Rural Electrification Agency,” said Bayani.
Viable Alternatives
According to him, there is no mention of off-grid interventions which the Malawi Renewable Energy Strategy recognize as having potential to connect 27% or 4.7 million of the population if harnessed.
He said: “There is no mention of the flagship projects already in play like: The US$144 World Bank financed Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP), The UNDP/GEF financed Access to Clean and Renewable Energy (ACRE) Project and the MAREP pipeline off-grid projects.
“These interventions will perhaps support close to 10 mini-grids if not more across the country and will produce instant gains as is the case with Sitolo 80kW Solar Mini-grid in Mchinji, as we wait for the big projects to materialize.”
The expert said as a sector they were still keeping their fingers crossed considering that this was Chakwera’s first Sona.
“We still have four years ahead of us. I am hopeful that the next SONA will build on the existing policies and strategies. As a country we have the 2018 National Energy Policy, The Malawi Renewable Energy Strategy, The Malawi SE4All Action Agenda, The Malawi Energy Investment Study Report and many others which would help to give the president a fair picture of the sector.
“It would be good to see the President articulating how the government has fared against these laid down policies/strategies and what plans are in place to implement them in the year ahead.”
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Useless…
Good writeup and food for thought. Nevertheless, I don’t think the SONA would have covered all the interventions you are referring to. Personally I think it’s up to the experts like you Mr Bayani to spearhead the initiatives you have aluded to. Just succeed in one and you will be amazed at the support you will get. Remember, ntchito ya manja anu will bear witness of what you are are talking about.
All the best.
Mr Bayani, that is a great business opportunity!!!!!, Invest in clean energy, jump on it! there are a lot of international organizations that are looking to fund initiatives that address clean energy
What are you doing about it????? we need a vibrant private sector, we can not just depend on the government to do everything, that is a business opportunity right there, you can create jobs!!!
it has to start with government policies. One cannot just wake up today to start producing power. Where will you sell it. Is it legal for ENGENCO currently to buy power from independent power producers.?
Cascade, stop this retrogressive thinking, we need innovators, this is 2020 for crying out loud
The private sector is hindered by stifling government regulations.
There problems in Malawi starting with poor education standards and facilities mostly public schools. The population boom is a big concern. People are just having children to satisfy sexual needs and they don’t know what it takes to bring up a child. In the end the poor will remain poor and the rich will get richer. This has an impact on the energy needs. The trees are being chopped mercilessly causing siltation in the river that provides energy. Coal is not a renewable source of energy. At least water is renewable and clean but our engineers are useless. Our politicians… Read more »
lack of electricity will indeed be Malawis undoing. No investor can be interested in investing in a country with an unreliable power supply
Without the clean energy for all S7. Many other sector’s like health, agricultural, manufacturing and health will continue to suffer.
That’s exactly the point this ‘Tonse’ government seem not to be getting.
Prioritise reliable electricity supply please!
Jobs, better agriculture, technology etc etc will all follow..