By Grace Kapatuka
The ‘Kupha Makwacha ndi Solar’ nationwide campaign has been launched in Lilongwe to accelerate Malawi’s drive towards achieving 70 percent access to electricity by 2030.
The initiative, backed by the European Union (EU) and Germany, was launched at Nsungwi Market in Area 25 and is being implemented under the ‘Putting Energy to Work’ project.
Speaking during the launch, Energy Officer in the Department of Energy, Enoch Palapandu, said the campaign supports Malawi’s Energy Compact and promotes the productive use of solar technologies to stimulate economic growth.
“This initiative is very important. It is not only about lighting but also about productive use, where customers will be able to make money and contribute to economic development of the country,” said Palapandu.
He noted that only 25.9 percent of Malawi’s population currently has access to electricity and urged citizens to embrace solar technologies as an alternative solution, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Palapandu said the campaign will link suppliers of quality-assured solar technologies with customers and promote equipment such as solar-powered water pumps, refrigeration systems, fishing lights and backup solutions to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Deputy Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy, Susanne Meltl, said fewer than three in ten Malawians have access to electricity, adding that Germany and the EU partnership will help Malawi meet its target of expanding clean, reliable and sustainable energy access to 70 percent of the population by 2030.
She said the campaign will not only improve access to clean energy but also power businesses, create jobs and strengthen local economies.
European Union Delegation to Malawi Team Leader for Sustainable Investments, Trade and Finance, Sven Ruesch, said investing in off-grid solar solutions promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth, particularly for women- and youth-led enterprises.
The campaign will run through radio, television, social media, roadshows and live demonstrations to raise awareness about quality solar products and increase demand across productive sectors.
So far, the ‘Putting Energy to Work’ project, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and the Rural Electrification Agency, has supported 10 companies offering productive-use-of-energy solutions and aims to enable 550 MSMEs nationwide to adopt solar technology.
