The much-awaited energisation of Phase 1 of the Nkhotakota Solar Power Plant is nigh. The solar power plant, which is approaching completion of construction, will have a capacity of 21 MW. The plant is owned by the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Serengeti Energy Limited. Together with the first phase, the 17MW second phase of the project which will start construction in 2023 will increase capacity by a total of 38 MW.
Energisation of Phase 1 is expected to be achieved during the first week of December with commercial operation scheduled for 22 December 2022.
Founded in 2013, Serengeti Energy is backed by shareholders KfW, Norfund, NDF, Proparco, Stoa and Swedfund. Serengeti Energy owns and operates renewable power plants in the Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Malawi.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Times, the company’s Country Director, Patrick Silungwe said: “Serengeti Energy has an ambitious mandate to create positive impact from its activities in markets across Sub-Saharan Africa. The company invests in and co-develops small and medium-sized renewable energy projects of up to 50 MW in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has a long-term commitment to making investments in power plants which serve its customers and make a positive impact in the markets in which it operates”.
“This Nkhotakota 1 project is very important for Malawi since the country continues to experience shortfalls in generation capacity against the existing demand. An addition of 21MW of capacity added to the grid is expected to ease the pressure by a considerable amount. The project has also benefitted the economy from the number of jobs have been created during the construction, both locally in the project area and country wide. It is the policy of the company to give chance to Malawians to run the company locally. The company also uses local suppliers where possible. Local communities are also very much at the heart of the company’s activities” Said Silungwe, who formerly worked for Ministry of Energy as Deputy Director and Head of Rural Electrification Programme.
Most of Malawi’s existing installed generation capacity utilises hydro sources, with power plants cascaded along the Shire River in the southern part of the country. With a combination of both drought and floods experienced in the region, Malawi has seen disruptions in hydropower generation leading to long hours of power rationing which has disrupted economic activities and social service delivery. The introduction of the new solar capacity will help ease the country’s electricity supply situation.