The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) through its Development Broadcasting Unit (DBU) has started conducting open days to raise awareness of the Government’s World Bank-funded Solar Off-Grid System (Ngwe Ngwe Ngwe) project.
Speaking at Chabwera Primary School Ground in the area of Traditional Authority Phambala in Ntcheu, DBU Programme Manager Joshua Chirwa disclosed that the days will be held in 28 sites in 14 districts across the country.
“The open day events are meant to interface communities with Ministry of Energy officials and nine solar companies contracted to sell and install solar home systems, largely to those not connected to the country’s power grid,” said Chirwa.
While stating that prices for the items are subsidised, Chirwa added the national project also has a pay-as-you-go credit facility.
Prices for the items which carter for lightning, phone charging and radio listening fall within the range of K150,000 to K263,000.
According to Chirwa, MBC, which signed for the national project in December 2022, will complete implementing the initiative in June 2024, subject to extension.
Malawi’s electricity access is estimated at 19 percent of the country’s population of about 20 million people, with Government expressing intent to expand access to 50 percent by 2030.