Mzuzu University (Mzuni) has delved into power generation and has since signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) to feed 50 megawatts (MW) into the national grid.
Escom also signed another PPA with Nyika Hydro power Group (NHG), to help increase the country’s installed energy capacity, during a ceremony in Lilongwe yesterday.
Mzuni is in the process of developing a 50MW solar power farm at Choma in Mzuzu worth 70 million euro expected to be ready by 2026. Initially Mzuni had planned to develop a 20 MW plant valued at $25 million.
On the other hand, NHG is developing three hydro power stations in Rumphi District with a combined 51MW.
Speaking during the signing yesterday at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, Escom chief executive officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda said energy is key to growing the country’s economy.
He expressed optimism that the Mzuzu solar farm and NHG power plants will be done quickly to help address power challenges in the country.
“For the ATM [agriculture, tourism and mining] strategy to work, you need energy. The mega farms need electricity, the same with tourism and mining,” said Kumwenda.
He also called on Malawians to invest in energy to help the country have stable power.
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola said the agreements formed part of government’s commitment to achieve universal access to clean energy.
He courted more investors to invest in renewable energy saying government will continue to create a conducive environment for investors.
Matola also commended Mzuni for taking a step to invest in energy generation saying universities in the country should provide practical solutions to energy challenges.
Mzuni vice-chancellor Professor Wales Singini said the university is committed to providing practical solutions to energy challenges facing the country. He said the focus is to invest more in various forms of renewable energy and the solar plant in question is just a starting point.
“We are part of a team that did a study for geothermal, the wind mills and these are some of the directions that our team is looking into. As I speak we are already a champion of supporting various communities with biogas as another source of renewable energy,” he said.
Minister of Higher Education Jessie Kabwila said her wish is to see institutions of higher learning provide practical solutions to challenges facing the country.
NHG chairperson Graeme Watson said PPA is a step forward in expanding renewable energy and he committed that NHG will develop the hydro power stations.
Malawi is targeting to increase access to electricity from 25 percent to 70 percent by 2030.
President Lazarus Chakwera soon after assuming office in 2020 challenged players in the energy sector to increase the country’s energy capacity to 1000MW by end of his first term, 2025. The country currently has a total installed capacity of 554MW but also imports eight MW from Zambia and Mozambique making a total of 562MW.
