Minister pleads for more Opec funds

Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola has called for more support from the Opec Fund for International Development in the areas of water supply and sanitation, energy, transport, agriculture and climate change.

In his speech yesterday during the Opec Fund for Development Forum in Vienna, Austria, he said natural disasters such as floods and droughts have affected Malawi’s  agriculture and energy sectors as such, increasing adaptive capacity and building the country’s climate resilience is paramount.

Matola said the loss of 130 megawatts due to damage caused to Kapichira Hydro-Power Stations by Tropical Storm Ana early this year has affected power generation in the country.

“This power station was contributing 23 percent to the power generation in the country. In 2019, Tropical Cyclone Idai also extensively damaged power infrastructure in the country,” he said.

Matola said the country needs to design energy infrastructure to withstand climate shocks to reach 50 percent electricity access by 2030.

“This would be achieved through building back better for existing infrastructure and enhanced climate-sensitive designs for future infrastructure. Increasing generation capacity through the implementation of greenfield power projects using various technologies is also a priority for the country,” said Matola.

In the transport sector, he said support is being sought for the Kaphatenga-Nkhotakota Lakeshore Road.

“We are happy to note that the Opec Fund is desirous to co-finance a section of this road together with the African Development Bank,” said Matola.

To date, the Opec Fund has supported various projects in Malawi totalling approximately $226.5 million (about K23 billion).

These include, Water and Sanitation $66.95 million (about K6 billion), transport $58.7 million (about K5.9 billion), agriculture $46 million (about K4.7 billion), health $41.2 million (about K4.2 billion) and education $11.1 million (about K1.1 billion).

There are also several Opec Fund supported projects that are ongoing, which include the construction of three teachers’ training colleges, Nkhata Bay Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Karonga Town Water Supply Project, Shire Valley Transformation Programme, National Cancer Centre, Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (Trade) Programme and Dowa Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project.