The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited, through the Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP), has successfully connected electricity to 134,484 households as of 3rd June 2025, moving steadily towards its ambitious goal of reaching 180,000 new customers nationwide.
According to ESCOM’s Chief Operations Officer, Maxwell Mulimakwenda, the project is firmly on track to connect more customers.
“The goal of this project is not just to bring power into homes, but to power Malawi’s economic engine in alignment with the Malawi 2063 development agenda. Electricity is a key catalyst for economic growth and national development,” he said.
Launched in 2021 and rolled out in 2022, MEAP aims to provide electricity to households located within 500 metres of existing electric transformers, focusing on urban and rural areas. The project is funded to a tune of USD 71 million by the World Bank, through the government of Malawi, as part of Malawi’s nationwide drive to expand access to electricity.
Mulimakwenda attributed the recent acceleration of connections to the arrival of new electricity metres in April, which allowed Escom staff and contractors to ramp up their efforts.
“We faced some initial logistical challenges but with the arrival of essential equipment, we are registering great progress. Our staff and contractors are working diligently, and we are continuously engaging them to increase the pace so we can meet or exceed our target,” he said.
Mulimakwenda also urged prospective customers who have not yet paid to take advantage of the project while it is still ongoing. In an effort to increase affordability, ESCOM has introduced flexible payment plans.
“We now offer an instalment payment plan, where customers can pay an initial deposit of just K17,475 towards the full connection fee of K93,200. This has made it more manageable for households to get connected,” he said.
Mulimakwenda added that to accommodate the marginalised groups such as women headed households, the elderly and people living with disabilities, MEAP offers Ready Boards which are low-cost, plug-and-play gadgets that come fully wired with sockets and lighting, ideal for basic household use. These units are priced at K64,074, with an initial deposit of K5,825, also available on an instalment basis.
ESCOM’s Chief Public Relations and Communications Officer, Pilirani Phiri, has also issued a strong appeal to the public, especially those living near existing power lines, to act quickly and apply for connection before the project window closes.
“This is a rare opportunity, especially for households that have never had electricity before. We are urging all eligible Malawians in both urban and rural areas to apply and pay the required amounts as soon as possible to benefit from this government-supported initiative,” said Phiri.
Phiri emphasized that access to electricity can dramatically improve quality of life by enabling education, economic activity, health services, and security.
“Electricity transforms communities. Children can study at night, businesses can grow, and families can enjoy better living standards. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone within reach of this program not to miss out,” he said.
During the launch of MEAP Mbwee! Mbwee! Mbwee! on 3rd April 2025 in Lilongwe, Minister of Energy, Honourable Ibrahim Matola, underscored the government’s commitment to increasing electricity access saying, “we are not just expanding access but also increasing generation through partnerships with independent power producers in hydro, solar, and gas projects,” he said.