Political Index Feature

Energy for New Malawi

Access to energy improves livelihoods and incomes, but only 12 percent of Malawians have access to electricity. The gap is huge among the rural majority, where only four in every 100 people are connected to grid power. What does the recent regime change mean to the excluded majority? What lies ahead? Our Staff Writer JAMES CHAVULA engages Community Energy Malawi (CEM) country director Edgar Kapiza Bayani.

Bayani: Progress has been painfully slow

Q

: In 2019, before the Tonse Alliance came to power, you scrutinised party manifestos. What does the power shift  entail for the renewable energy sector?

A

: MCP and UTM Party, the major players in the alliance made 12 promises each on energy.  We expect them to deliver on that. We are eager to see free electricity connections start. New projects like the 2 000-megawatt hydropower project to increase power generation should start.  More importantly is the operationalisation and depoliticisation of the National Energy Policy, National Renewable Energy Strategy and the Malawi Energy Action Agenda. They also promised to improve efficiency of Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom). We all know the problems rocking Escom are to a large extent bordering on corruption and inefficiencies, so we eagerly wait to see that too being implemented.

Q

: Are the Tonse Alliance promises on energy attainable?

A

: Some promises are doable within five years and others beyond. What is important now is to immediately get down to work, streamline the promises to the national energy policies and frameworks and schedule them into short-term, medium-term and long-term plans. More importantly, the government must work with NGOs and private sector players in energy to accelerate the attainment of goals, including Sustainble Development Goal (SDG) seven on universal access to affordable clean energy for all.

Q

: Should we have hope that the Tonse Alliance will deliver on SDG 7 targets?

A

: Too early to speculate, but if they get down to business and deliver on their promises, why not? Suffice to say, out of the 12 combined promises,  we consider five of them as aiming at increasing access to modern energy. They promised special tariffs for the poor and universal connection with cost recovery from tariffs which if implemented will ensure no one is left behind. They promised to use Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (Marep) to extend electricity even in rural villages.  If implemented, it will be a departure from the current Marep strategy of targeting just trading centres and growth centres. They also promised to promote minigrids in increasing access and committed to speed up assessments and development of minigrids.  If tied to the mega-farm concept, for example, minigrids will have multiple effects as they will address several SDGs at one go. They also made promises on promoting clean energy, including  promoting research on green energy. If implemented, we hope it will become a rallying point for academicians and industry players in developing a green economy.   Nevertheless, as players in the renewable energy sector, we are not in support of fossil-based power projects like coal. Keep coal in the ground because it harms the planet.

Q

: On June 28, we saw President Lazarus Chakwera during his swearing-in saying he first saw electricity and potable water when he went to secondary school. What do you make of this imagery? Is the situation any different today?

A

: Sadly for many Malawians, the situation is as the President saw two scores and 16 years ago.  Only four percent  of rural folks, who constitute 84 percent of the country’s population, have access to electricity. It means many people  still have no access to clean electricity as was the case for the young Chakwera in the 1960s. This imagery is powerful and gives us hope that perhaps we now have a leader who can identify with the problems of ordinary Malawians and, therefore, better-placed to address them. My word to Chakwera is simple:  Mr President, Malawians, especially in rural villages, expect a lot from you.

Q

: How do you feel that only four percent of rural folks have electricity in their homes 56 years on?

A

: The progress has been painfully slow. Marep was established in 1980 and now, almost two scores of years down the line,  only four percent of the rural majority have electricity. It’s like for the past 40 years, we were only connecting 0.1 percent of the rural folks per year. I’m  sure we have learnt our lessons and we are eager to go forward with renewed vigour and vision.

Q

: What should the new Minister of Energy do to speed up rural electrification and bring in transparency and accountability to the sluggish initiative?

A

: One is to operationalise the National Energy Policy, Renewable Energy Strategy and Action Agenda. These documents have robust plans that can change a lot in Malawi if fully implemented.  The establishment of district energy officer post, for example, is one that can promote decentralised energy projects like minigrids.  Secondly, there is a need for a function review in his ministry and make sure that round poles are fitted in round holes instead of forcing square pegs into round holes. Energy, like any specialised field, also require to have people who know the stuff leading policy development and implementation. Thirdly, do a serious review of the Rural Electrification Fund and Rural Electrification Programme, including forensic audits for the past few years. Like what Roads Fund does, we need to see reports in newspapers, of how much has been collected for rural electrifcation, how it has been used and citizens must have the liberty to ask questions.

 Marep seems to be one section that people have more questions than answers on and is one programme that is highly politically abused. These things of ministers travelling around switching off poorly circuited houses in the name of Marep during campaigns are questionable.

Lastly, he has to ensure that the processes that were initiated under Principal Secretary Patrick Matanda on procedures that would enable private operators and NGOs access Marep funds for minigrids and rural energy projects are completed and operationalized. The Rural Electrification Fund is clear that operators can access such funds but some sections have been frozen for years and there has not been well laid procedures to support that. As said earlier on, promoting mini-grids tied to mega farms  concept as an anchor productive use of energy will have ripple effects. Mega farms will have energy for processing and nearby villages have energy for households and small businesses without necessarily waiting on expansion of the Escom grid there.

Related Articles

Back to top button