Authorities have rated highly the mini grids as part of a solution to the persistent power outages in the country.
Ibrahim Matola Minister of Energy made the remarks after receiving a 220 Kilowatts- Bondo mini hydro, in Mulanje- worth half a Million US Dollars from the UNDP.
The mini grid which is benefiting over one thousand five hundred customers, is being managed by Mulanje Electricity Generation Agency a subsidiary of Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust.
After the official handover, Shigeki Komatsubara UNDP resident representative, said energy is a catalyst for the development of a nation saying it promotes economic activities.
According to Komatsubara, the hydro asset is as a result of a partnership UNDP had with MEGA in projects aimed at promoting access to clean energy.
“UNDP first joined hands with MEGA through the project Increasing Access to Clean and Affordable Decentralized Energy Services in Selected Vulnerable Areas of Malawi project which ran from 2015 – 2019.
This support from UNDP also continued into the successor project of Access to Clean and Renewable Energy (2020 – 2023).
This support came in monetary form to the tune of USD 500,000 which provided equipment, materials, and technical assistance. This equipment is what is being handed over today.” said Komatsubara.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Matola Minister of Energy, has called on the locals to safeguard the electricity equipment to ensure sustainability.
Currently, the power being generated from Luchenya river is connected to 22 villages and over ten thousand users are expected to be connected in the future
