…Chakwera Condemns vandalism of ESCOM assets
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera launched the 20MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project at Kanengo Sub-station for the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited on Monday, November, 25, 2024.
In his speech during the launch, Chakwera said BESS was among the projects his administration has undertaken to end frequent power supply outages and ensure grid stability.
He also thanked the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) for funding the project to the tune of $20.2 million.
The President then urged Malawians to safeguard ESCOM property from acts of vandalism which he described as being motivated by pure sabotage.
“Sadly, some communities with electricity are being plunged into blackouts due to vandalism. This is happening in some parts of the country and it is not being done for commercial purposes. The only aim is sabotage. Two weeks ago, an ESCOM pole was vandalized outside the State residence,” he said.
“I want to appeal to all Malawians to be vigilant against vandalism because ESCOM assets belong to all Malawians. I also call upon the Malawi Police Service to ramp up surveillance of these assets. We cannot have the rule of law if people who are committing these crimes are let scot-free. Doing so [ending vandalism], we will demonstrate to GEAPP that we do not take their generosity for granted.”
In his remarks, ESCOM Board Chairperson, Mr. Morgan Tembo, said BESS would help ease instability challenges the grid experiences due to the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar.
“The launch of the project we are witnessing this morning marks a pivotal step in ESCOM’s strategy to improve the reliability and accessibility of electricity across the nation,” Tembo said.
In his speech, project funders GEAPP Vice-President for Africa, Joseph Nganga, described the project as a game-changer to the Malawi energy sector.
“Energy lies at the heart of development. It is an enabler that powers industries. Energy is not just about turning on the lights. It is about powering dreams. With energy, schools can thrive and hospitals can provide services. BESS will stabilize Malawi grid to provide resilience against climate shocks. I thank ESCOM for your partnership and dedication,” Nganga said.
Taking his turn, GEAPP Global Advisor, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, described BESS as the first of its kind in Africa and its implementation reflects the commitment of the country’s leadership to provide energy solutions.
“GEAPP has always taken a view that any investment of any kind and any partnership of any type must have the commitment of its leadership. This project is the first of its kind in Africa because of the commitment of your [Chakwera] leadership,” Osinbajo said.
Earlier, Energy Minister, Ibrahim Matola, hailed Chakwera for initiating the project after engaging GEAPP leadership to invest in renewable energy solutions.
BESS is an advanced technology that stores energy for later use just like a power bank. It captures excess energy generated during periods of low energy usage and supplies back into the grid during periods of high energy use.
The project is also expected to provide frequency support in cases where there is a sudden drop in Solar PV generation -hence providing stability to the Grid.