Tag Archives: Minister of Natural Resources Energy and Mining Aggrey Masi

Malawi, SADC, Top News

Malawi taps 20 Megawatts into national grid from Zambia

Lloyd M’bwana

Malawi Minister Massi and Zambia Energy Minister Nkhuwa, 

The Chipata Mchinji 33 KV cross-border power supply line has been switched on.

This means Malawi has added 20 megawatts to its grid, a development which is expected to improve electricity supply in the country.

 

Kasungu, Mchinji, and part of Lilongwe districts are direct beneficiaries of the cross-border power supply line but other areas in the country are expected to benefit from the power that was used by the three districts.

 

Speaking at the switch on ceremony of the line at Mwami Mchinji border on Monday, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Aggrey Masi, said the development is a milestone as hours of power outages will reduce in Malawi.

 

On his part, Zambian Energy Minister, Matthew Nkhuwa, said his country has 700 megawatts spare power which they are willing to export.

 

But Masi says the 20 megawatts is just a starting point as going forward, Malawi would be exporting more to improve power supply in the country.

 

Top News

Malawi to add 19.5 Megawatts to Tedzani Power Plant

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Aggrey Masi has challenged Mitsubishi Corporation, a contractor for the construction of Tedzani 1V Electricity Power Plant to utilize local workforce in the project.

The project, whose sole owner is Electricity Generation Company Limited (EGENCO), started on June 11, 2018 and is expected to run for 39 months.

Speaking during the official launch of project at Tedzani Power Station in Thyolo, the minister said engaging local communities in the project would provide cheap labour to the corporation on one hand, on the other hand, locals would get income to transform their livelihoods, thereby making a significant contribution to all aspects of development.

“As such, I plead with the contractor of this project that apart from bringing their experts here, they should also employ local workforce which is cheap and readily available. This will mean that there will be job opportunities for the communities and their income would uplift their lives,” he said.

Masi then urged the communities to work hard and also with diligence once employed at the construction site for the success of the project.

“Be professional. Follow whatever rules and regulations that will be stipulated for the working conditions for mutual understanding between two parties and of course smooth implementation of the project,” he said.

In his remarks, Mitsubishi Corporation General Manager, Yusuke Mosodo said his company had already started employing locals and that there was hope that the figures would rise depending on stages of the project.

“We understand the need to engage the local workforce and currently we have close to 60 local people from the communities excluding the expatriates,” he said.

The construction of Tedzani 1V Power Plant is expected to add 19.5 megawatts to the national generation system which currently produces 351 megawatts, thereby reducing frequent blackouts.

Environment, Malawi, Top News

Malawi Natural resources Minister Masi challenges researchers on climate change adaptation info sharing

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Aggrey Masi on Wednesday challenged country’s researchers to vigorously share successful results, and technological innovations being invented towards Climate Change Adaptation measures.

Minister Masi observed that there is a lot of research being undertaken on various interventions towards addressing effects of climate change but much is not made available to public for usage.

The minister was speaking during the official opening of the first ever National Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation underway in the capital Lilongwe.

He reminded the participants that in 2016, the country launched National Climate Change Management Policy which is a mechanism for harmonizing and enhancing the planning, development, coordination, financing and monitoring of climate change initiatives and programmes.

“There is a lot of research being undertaken, various interventions implemented that are yielding successful results, and technological innovations being invented and adopted. It is important that these research findings/recommendations, successful interventions and innovations are shared, disseminated so that we learn from each other to identify gaps, challenges, solutions and build synergies.

“This Symposium provides one of the platforms that you practitioners should showcase and disseminate recommendations on best practices in climate change adaptation and resilience building through your research papers. As practitioners, we need to work together, build synergies so that we have one voice and communicate one message to our communities,” urges Masi.

Maria Jose Torres, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative expects participants to fully set practical ways of tackling climate change while growing Malawi’s economy.

Torres said climate change action needs to be integrated into all development planning.

“Climate change adaptation commitments needs to build on local and natural development objectives, plans and strategies and be realistic and actionable,” urges Torres.

GEF and UNDP are supporting the two projects in Malawi including Adapt Plan and Climate Proofing which are sponsoring the symposium.

Under the theme titled;“Harnessing adaptation knowledge and practices for a resilient Malawi”, the symposium organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining through Environmental Affairs Department in collaboration with the Adaptation Expert Working Group and the Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) in Malawi, has attracted researchers, communities, civil societies, media, government agencies.