Malawi eyes Sadc energy body
Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bright Msaka says Malawi will be a member of the yet to be established Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Sacree) whose objective is to contribute towards increased access to modern energy services and improved energy security across the region.
Msaka speaking on return from the Sadc Energy Ministers Meeting in South Africa, told Business News that Namibia will host the centre whose initial budget for the first three years is 1.8 million euros.
He said: “The aim of this meeting is to facilitate and coordinate availability of sufficient, reliable, least cost energy services that will assist in the attainment of economic growth and eradication of poverty. The meeting approved the establishment of the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and all Sadc member States, including Malawi will join.”
Msaka said contributions towards the setting up of the centre will be calculated using the Sadc formula with a view of ensuring affordability and equity.
He also disclosed that the meeting approved projects that have been listed in the Southern African Power Pool (Sapp) projects where Malawi has the lower Fuku Hydro Power Project and the power interconnection project with Mozambique.
“During discussion we [Malawi] noted that most of the projects under the five-year power development plan were not included on the Sadc priority list. In view of this, we were advised to formerly submit the projects for possible inclusion in the Sapp priority power projects,” said Msaka.
Apart from Mozambique, Msaka said Malawi is also in the process to tap power from Zambia and Tanzania.
Msaka said so far a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mozambique has been signed and that the two governments are in the process of engaging consultants to carry out feasibility studies and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for this power interconnector.
“As for the power interconnection with Zambia, the MoU is expected to be signed in August while that with Tanzania will be signed through the joint development of the Songwe River Hydro Power Project,” said Msaka.
Being interconnected to t he Sapp will enable Malawi to share power with the countries in the region by either selling or buying, whichever case may be.
It is expected that by the year 2020 Malawi will add 1 550 megawatts of power to the national grid.
