The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited has connected 146,000 Malawians to the electricity grid as of June 27, 2025, through the World Bank-funded Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP), which has since been extended to December 2025.
Initially, the project, which was rolled out in 2022, targeted to connect 180,000 households by June 2025. But with the six-month extension by the World Bank, the project will now be completed by December 2025.
According to ESCOM Chief Public Relations and Communications Officer Pilirani Phiri, households within a 500-metre radius of an existing transformer can apply for MEAP connections through flexible instalment options.
Phiri said the cost of a new MEAP connection is K93,200. Customers who can not afford the full connection fee can pay a deposit of K17,475 and settle the balance in instalments after being connected to the grid.
“MEAP also has a provision for Ready Boards; an affordable alternative for households unable to afford full house wiring. These are available for K64,074, with instalment options starting at K5,825,” he said
Reacting to the project extension, Phiri said, “We are excited with the extension and the positive impact that the project has registered across the country. This is empowerment at its best. As we all know, electricity is a key stimulus for economic growth and national development,” said Phiri.
Phiri noted that despite various challenges that ESCOM face, the drive and motivation that personnel at the institution have demonstrated in ensuring that most Malawians are connected to the grid is worth commending.
“For instance, in Chitipa, I was amazed to see that on a single day they connected over 20 houses, and so far, they have almost doubled their target. The project targeted 38,000 households in the entire northern region, and so far 32,000 have been connected,” he said.
The project is funded to the tune of USD 71 million by the World Bank, through the Government of Malawi, as part of the country’s nationwide drive to expand access to electricity.