Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Welani Chilenga on Thursday commissioned four solar mini-grids in Chikwawa and Nsanje designed to address power challenges in the two districts. Speaking during the ceremony in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kasisi in Chikwawa, the deputy minister hailed the consortium of Practical Action, Churches Action in Relief and Development (Card), Environment Africa and Hivos for the solar grids, saying they will complement government’s efforts to provide rural masses with electricity. “This electricity will help communities in the two districts to do business, reduce hunger trough irrigation farming and light their houses,” he said. The consortium’s representative, Kudzai Marovanidze, said he expected the people to manage the facilities now that they are handed over to them. “They should work with government departments to build on the foundation we have laid down,” he said. T/As Kasisi and Mbenje from Chikwawa and Nsanje, respectively, said the solar energy will provide energy for irrigation farming. The installed grids in Chikwawa are generating 15 and 25 kilowatts (kW) while another 15 and 30 kW are being generated in Nsanje. The Sustainable Energy for Rural Communities project is funded by the European Union.
(Source: The Nation Malawi, Monday 28 January 2019)