Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) is set to connect over 90 000 new customers to the national grid from March to June this year under the Malawi Electricity Access Project (Meap).
In an interview, Escom acting chief public relations officer Peter Kanjere said through the project, they are implementing the on-grid component to accelerate electricity connections in Malawi through least-cost medium voltage and low voltage network expansion thereby boosting businesses, health and education, among others.
He said: “The project is helping Escom accelerate new connections and increase electricity access towards achieving the country’s goal of achieving 30 percent electricity access by 2030 as stipulated in the Malawi Energy Policy.”
Kanjere further added that Escom recently introduced an instalment payment option to help customers to pay an initial fee of K17 475, thereby easing the financial burden of the full connection cost.
“For low-income households, we offer a more affordable solution through the use of ready boards, the total cost for this option is K64 074, with a deposit of K5 825.
“The balance will also be recovered through 40 percent deductions from their electricity purchases,” he said.
Meap deputy project manager Gift Banda said new meters to facilitate the remaining connections are expected to arrive in the country at the end of next month.
He said contractors are also being engaged to ensure the connections meet the June deadline.
Launched in 2021, with implementation starting in 2022, Meap seeks to provide electricity to 180 000 households within a 500-metre radius of existing transformers in rural and urban areas.
So far, 90 550 single-phase customers have been connected under the $71 million (about K125 billion) project being funded by the World Bank.
