Mini generators light up Nkhata Bay community

About 200 households in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay are enjoying the luxury of having electricity generated locally using mini generators made from scrap metal.

There are about 150 water driven generators, separately installed along Kavuzi River in the area, produce between 20 to 35 kilowatts each, shared between two to three households.

One of the beneficiaries of the initiative, Violet Nkhata of Chumba Nkhata Village, said in an interview on Monday that she is excited for being able to access electricity despite being far away from the national grid.

“The national grid is nowhere close to this place. We, therefore, enjoy the luxury of electricity through what our local artisans assembled using scrap metal,” she said.

Nkhata said the power generated only gives them lighting and use of a few appliances such as watching television and listening to the radio.

She appealed to government to assist them with bigger generators to produce a bigger voltage of power.

Acting director of energy affairs in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Joseph Kalowekamo, said the ministry, in partnership with the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority is engaging the communities to come up with a solution to the energy challenges they are facing.

“We do appreciate the initiative, but we need to work on safety issues,” he said.

The Department of Energy in the Ministry of Natural Resources Energy and Mining is facilitating the establishment of mini-grids in a number of sites including Mantchewe in Rumphi.