Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has lauded Malawi Electricity Access Project (Meap) for significantly reducing the backlog of new connection applications by linking about 160 000 households to the national grid by July 2025.
Funded by the World Bank to the tune of $71 million (about 125 billion), the projected targeted to connect 180 000 households by December this year.
Speaking during a media tour of peri-urban areas in Mzuzu on Tuesday, Escom chief public relations officer Pilirani Phiri said the project has been instrumental in addressing longstanding demand for electricity connections.
In April this year, Escom announced on its website that it faced a backlog of 47 000 paid-up customers.
However, Phiri said that backlog has now been reduced, especially for those benefitting through Meap.
“Through the Meap initiative we have already connected close to 160 000 households and are well on track to hit the 180 000 target by year-end. Most of our backlog has been cleared and this is record-breaking,” he said.
Etinayo Kamanga, an 80 year-old woman from Sonda in Mzuzu, said she now charges her phone with ease while her grandchildren enjoy uninterrupted study time at night.
On his part, Mapopa Phiri of Mageza area said electricity has transformed his daily life.
“We have reduced the use of firewood since we now use electricity for cooking. It has improved our well-being,” he said.
Meap, launched in 2021 and rolled out in 2022, targets households located within 500 metres of existing electricity transformers.
To improve affordability, Escom offers flexible payment plans, including installment options.
Beyond easing pressure on Escom, the project is central to Malawi’s national electrification agenda.
Its strategic objectives include raising on-grid electricity access from 12 percent in 2020 to about 30 percent by 2030 while expanding off-grid access to 20 percent within the same timeframe.
The overall goal is to achieve 50 percent national electricity access by 2030.
