Govt set to present Energy Plan in Parliament

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Atupele Muluzi has said government plans to connect 30 percent of the country’s population to the national electricity grid by 2030.

Currently, only nine percent of the population, estimated at over 15 million, have access to electricity, a figure the minister described as “too low for a growing economy of Malawi”.

Said Atupele: “Studies have shown that if we can increase that rate to at least 30 percent, then Malawi will begin to move towards middle-income stages.”

He was speaking in Lilongwe on Tuesday evening when he graced the launch of solar products by energy firm, Total Malawi Limited.

Atupele said by connecting more Malawians to the electricity grid, the move would have a direct link to poverty reduction efforts by Malawi, grow the economy further and transform the country.

He said in the next sitting of Parliament, government will present a four-year energy plan that will encompass all activities that government has earmarked for new generation, transmission and distribution of our electricity systems.

Atupele also said government wants to begin reaching the levels of doubling energy generation capacity within the next four years.

Malawi’s energy generation is currently pegged at 351 megawatts, but according to the minister, government wants to generate about 700 megawatts by 2019.

“That is why President Peter Muntharika has placed energy as one of the key priority areas for growing the economy and also transforming the economy,” said the minister.

Earlier, Total Malawi Limited managing director Michel Malatino said his company is determined to reach out to low-income households with its newly launched solar products. n