Community Energy Malawi says setting up renewable energy hubs in rural areas can fasten development in the country.
Community Energy Malawi county director Edgar Kapiza-Bayani said this on Thursday at Nzepa Primary school in Shire North in Balaka district during an awareness on renewable energy power hubs and standards.
he said: “With the funding from Scottish government through University of strathclyde, we are implementing the rural Energy Access through Social Enterprise and decentralization (Ease) project in Balaka and Dedza. In Balaka, we have installed a 12.5 megawatt solar energy hub to power social enterprises and a cold storage facility.
“In extension, we have also installed a solar powered water pump for the 20 hectare Nakatale Irrigation Scheme along Shire River to help farmers maximize productivity. The Energy hub will also light up the school, teacher’s houses, church and surrounding communities,”
One of the farmers at the scheme, Mercy Chamgwera, said people were failing to utilize the scheme effectively because of shortage of water.
Balaka acting district commissioner Darwin Mgoli welcomed the development, saying people of the area will become food-secure.
“This area is generally a rain shadow and it is characterized by erratic rains. Therefore, Nakatale will become a food basket because pumping water for the scheme has been simplified,” he said.
Source: The Nation_Tuesday, 19 april 2022_by Mike Van Kamande_Correspondent