Malawi: The Ministry of Energy says the Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP) has supported many Malawians. The project is being implemented under the Ministry and Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM).
Public Relations Officer for the ministry, Austin Theu shared the significance of the project for the benefit of the people. The PR Officer made the remarks during a media interaction.
The officials have shared that the project is helping many low-income and vulnerable households get access to electricity and other facilities. He stated that the project is supporting the elimination of connection barriers due to unaffordable internal house wiring costs.
In place of the internal wiring, the Malawi Electricity Access Project provides ready boards. The initiative is expected to support low-income households that cannot afford internal house wiring costs under the component of Grid Electrification.
“The end line target is to connect 180,000 customers to the grid but so far, over 50,000 customers have been connected using ESCOM workforce and, ESCOM is finalizing processes to engage private contractors as a key strategy to accelerate connections in the country,” they said.
Public Relations Officer for the ministry, Austin Theu shared the other benefits of the projects to the corporate sector. He disclosed that the project has since bridged the financing gap faced by solar companies operating in Malawi.
The project is helping address the challenges to developing the Off-Grid Solar market under the component of Off-grid Market Development.
“Nine solar companies were selected to benefit from Ngwee Ngwee Ngwee Fund, Five on the main window and four on the Market Catalyst Window. Collectively, these will install solar home systems to at least 244,500 households in rural off-grid areas.
Currently, solar home systems have been installed in around 25,000 off-grid households spread across the country,” he added.
The companies that are benefiting from the main window are:
- Vitalite Group Limited
- Zuwa Energy Limited
- Perennial Holdings Limited
- Star Times Media Limited
- Green Impact Technologies Limited
Meanwhile, the following four companies are expected to benefit from the programme’s Market Catalyst Window,
- Sollys Energy
- Kumudzi Kuwale
- RECAPO
- Sunnymoney