Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba has hailed the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) for supporting government efforts in addressing the power challenges the country has been facing.
Zamba was speaking in Lilongwe after presiding over the GEAPP programme launch and the Integrated Energy Planning Tool in Lilongwe.
The project seeks to assist Malawi in the energy and other sectors including Agriculture.
GEAPP has provided a K20 billion grant towards the procurement of batteries that will help in adding power to the national grid.
The organisation is supporting ESCOM to implement a 20-megawatt utility-scale grid-integrated battery energy storage system for grid stabilisation to reduce nationwide system shutdowns.
“Let me thank President Dr Lazarus Chakwera for initiating the relationship with GEAPP. Ty his sealed when I was at Presidential Delivery Unit,” Zamba said.
Vice President of GEAPP Joseph Nganga said they are committed to assisting Malawi in its drive to achieve a clean energy situation.
“The program being announced today is intended to work with the Government of Malawi, the private sector, and all development partners to assist Malawi address its energy needs and achieve its energy agenda,” Nganga said
He said GEAPP will continue to work with all stakeholders to make the programme a success in support of power sector needs for Malawi.
Meanwhile Charles Kagona, ESCOM
The Director of System & Market Operations said the support has come at the right time as it will help to stabilize power on the national grid even in the absence of solar power.
“Their board has already approved the money we will just facilitate the paperwork,” Kagona said.
Malawi lost almost 130 megawatts at Kapichira Hydro Station due to Cyclone Ana which hit the country early this year.
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