Blantyre Water Board is expected to install solar energy at its water pumping sites within the city, a move which will drastically reduce its ESCOM electricity bills.
Energy Efficiency Engineer for BWB, Rose Galanje, has disclosed this during a media tour of sites which will be rehabilitated under the Malawi Water & Sanitation Project (MWSP).
The installation of the solar power is a component of the MWSP, which is expected to improve water supply and sanitation services in Blantyre and surrounding areas.
“For example at Mudi water pumping plant, BWB spends K40 million monthly on electricity bills. The solar power will reduce electricity bills by 40 percent but also improve our efficiency,” said Galanje.
MWSP is funded by the World Bank to the tune of 145 million United States dollars (approximately K145 billion at present day rate).
By Chipiliro Mtumodzi