The government has said discussions are at an advanced level to secure $10 million from african Development Bank (ADB) for promoting local electricity generation projects in communities.
One of the Ministry of Energy’s directors. Cassius Chiwambo said funds from ADB would complement efforts being made under Malawi Energy Access Project and Access to clean Renewable Energy initiative, meant to support rural electrification programmes.
He said these would address challenges which community hydropower innovators are facing, especially after their projects stalled due to funding constraints.
One of them is the K200 million Mchezi Community Hydro Power Project in Nkhata Bay District. Proprietor of the project Hastings Mkandawire said, once the project is completed, it would connect 240 houses, three primary schools and one maize mill.
“To finish this project, we need over K100 million and we only managed to secure K20 million which we used for constructing a dam, water canal, pipes and power house,” Mkandawire said
Meanwhile, Kasangazi Mini Hydro Power innovator Corlad Nkosi from Mzimba District has said his power station connects 28 houses with electricity but could supply power to over 900 houses if he were capacitated.
“The problem is that I am using substandard small wires and poor poles in transmitting power to houses. I also do not have switch gers, transformers and other modern equipment for standard power generation systems;” Nkosi said.
Minister of Energy Newton Kambala, who recently visited the site, said he, as an engineer, observed that Kasangazi Mini Hydropower would be able to negerate 30 kilowatts.
“One of the reasons we came here is to ensure that the system is safe for people that are using the electricity and, here, we have noted that transmission needs proper wires and, because of that, power is lost. as such, we are promising that the governemnt will participate in this initiative, ” Kambala said.
Only 11 percent Malawians have access to the national grid.
Source: The Nation_Friday 30, 2021_by Samuel Kalimira.