Project News

GENARAL INFORMATION
Malawi shares a common border with Zambia and the two countries have similar development problems in term of infrastructure like rural electrification. The percentage of households that are electrified in the two countries are almost the same (around 8%). However, Malawi embarked on Rural Electrification programme sometime back while Zambia is yet to do so.

OBJECTIVE OF THE COUNTERPARTS VISIT
Since Malawi has had some experience in the field of rural electrification which the Zambians are about to start, it was felt a good idea for the Zambians to come and learn from their counterparts how they have done it, what problems they have encountered, how they have surmounted the problems and what advice they can offer to their counterparts as they prepare to roll out their program.

SCHEDULE
Friday, 16th November 2007 was dedicated to discussion of issues surrounding the following (1) Japanese Assistance to Malawi in terms of Technical Assistance for Master Plan Study, Experts, Debt Relief Funds, Grass Roots Grant Aid, and Counter Value Funds (2) Rural Electrification (R/E) Master Plan in terms of history, necessity for RE, target areas, site selection criteria, electrification method (on or off grid) and on-going future programme. (3) Legal and Institutional framework in terms of Energy (Power) policy and related acts, institutional framework (regulatory authority, implementing agencies, etc), Financial resources (Fund) etc, and ownership, (4) Distribution Planning and technologies in terms of Procedure (Procurement, feasibility study, detailed design, construction management, etc, technical standards, cost effectiveness and connections to houses (5) Solar systems and other renewables in terms of history of solar systems, PV technical standards (level) and Micro hydro development. Officers from the two sides gave an account of how each one of the issues is like in their countries.

On Saturday, 17th November 2007 the team had a field visit to one trading centre that was electrified by grid under Phase IV of the RE Program in the suburb of Lilongwe city, about 30 kilometres from the Central Business area. They were shown a Community Day Secondary School that was previously electrified with solar energy.

The Counterparts were very impressed by the quality of work that had been done by the installers of the system. Apart from lighting, the system provides enough energy for using a desktop computer, a photocopying machine as well as charging cell phones.

“This technology can really transform rural areas” one of the Counterparts remarked in total amazement to what he was seeing.

On the other hand the Malawian side learned a lot from their counterparts in such area as policy and regulatory framework.

It was a visit that benefited both sides and the agreed that, resources permitting, Malawians should in future reciprocate the visit and see how their counterparts are implementing their activities. Officials from the two sides were unanimous in thanking the Government of Japan for organizing such a tour and requested that such assistance should extend to other countries.