Renewable energy an opportunity for growth

The political leadership in Malawi has for the better part of five decades, failed to invest in revamping and modernising the energy sector to keep abreast with the growing population or the country’s dream of economic transformation through industrialisation and value addition.

The blackouts that rocked Malawi since the turn of the decade are a testament to that lack of investment. More and more areas are urbanising, raising the demand for electricity. To address the blackouts, the Malawi government in the past invested in diesel generators.  There was also a plan to develop a coal energy plant. Those investments had limited success.

Malawi’s long search for a viable and affordable source of electricity continues. Local energy experts have argued that the country can benefit if it transitioned to clean and renewable energy sources.