A total of 53 primary schools, a few Community Day Secondary Schools, and several health facilities in both off-grid and on-grid areas of Kasungu are set to be electrified under the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Malawi (ASCENT) project.
Speaking during a District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting, Project Officer Austin Thewu said the initiative will also connect electricity to several households in the district, contributing 50 percent toward the government’s target of achieving 70 percent national electrification by 2030.
“This is a flagship project contributing to the achievement of the National Energy Compact and Mission 300. It has five components, which include last-mile grid connection, off-grid connection through solar home systems, energy access for schools and health facilities, clean cooking solutions, and technical assistance and capacity building,” said Thewu.
He added that in off-grid areas, the project will subsidize solar home systems to make them affordable for communities and install solar-powered electricity in schools and health facilities.
Among the facilities expected to benefit are Kasungu District Hospital, Kaluluma Community Hospital, Kadifula Health Post, Livwezi CDSS, and Chamama, Nyaza, and Kamilaza Primary Schools.
Commenting on the development, District Chief Education Officer Pius Ng’omang’oma disclosed that out of the district’s 395 primary schools, only 35 currently have access to electricity, saying it is, therefore, a positive step that another 53 schools will benefit from the project.
“Electricity at a school significantly contributes to service delivery and learner performance, so we are happy that the project has targeted some schools. Once electrified, either through grid connection or off-grid solar systems, we will work closely with community structures to ensure sustainability,” Ng’omang’oma said.
The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining in partnership with the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) across 27 districts, with support from the World Bank.
By Topson Banda
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(Photo Credit: Escom Facebook Page)
