By Chisomo Phiri
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost )-Mzuzu University (MZUNI) and the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) on Wednesday signed a power purchase agreement, marking a significant step towards addressing the country’s power challenges.
Under the agreement, MZUNI will supply electricity to ESCOM from its 50-megawatt solar power farm, currently under development at Choma in Mzuzu.
The €70 million (approximately K137.5 billion) project is expected to be completed by 2026 and will not only contribute to the national grid but also provide Mzuni students with practical experience in energy programs.
Initially, the university had planned to develop a 20-megawatt plant valued at $25 million (K43.4 billion), but the project has since been scaled up.
Speaking during the partnership signing ceremony in Lilongwe,Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola, praised MZUNI for taking the lead in investing in power generation and challenged other universities to follow suit.
“MZUNI is proving that universities can play a practical role in providing solutions to the challenges facing the country,” said Matola.
On his part,MZUNI Vice Chancellor, Wales Singini, emphasized the university’s commitment to providing practical solutions to energy challenges.
He revealed that the solar plant is just the beginning, with the university already exploring other renewable energy sources, including geothermal, wind, and biogas.
ESCOM Chief Executive Officer(CEO ) , Kamkwamba Kumwenda, welcomed the partnership, stating that the MZUNI solar farm will help increase power generation and alleviate power challenges, particularly in the Northern region.
