The United States government has expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far in the power projects under the $350 million (K256 billion) Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) energy compact.
The MCC compact is aimed at supporting Malawi to increase the capacity and stability of the national electricity grid and the efficiency and sustainability of hydropower generation.
Speaking last week during a familiarisation tour of some of the projects US Embassy deputy chief of mission Andrew Herraup, who was accompanied by Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Andrew Massi, said his government is optimistic that Malawi will beat the September 2018 deadline.
He said: “I have been impressed with the progress that we have all made together from MCC, government and the individual contractors.
“I think this reflects the manifestation of the success of the MCC compact as can be seen through the physical infrastructure that will help and increase [power] generation, transmission and distribution in the country.”
Millennium Challenge Account-Malawi (MCA-M) is implementing the compact with the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom), the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera), Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) and Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining.
In an interview, Massi said government is relieved to learn that the challenges choking the progress of the projects were now a thing of the past.
He called for concerted efforts in safeguarding the interests of the country to ensure that the project benefits all Malawians.