JCM Power 60MW Solar Electricity Ready April

JCM Power 60MW Solar Electricity Ready April

There is a layer of hope that Malawi will soon add at least 60 megawatts of power to the national grid after the completion of the Solar power plant at Kanzimbe in Salima district in April.

Speaking to Zodiak online Monday, JCM power Country Director, Philip Leferink said despite being affected by rains and Covid 19 causing delays, this will not have a huge impact on the deadline.

Leferink is optimistic that the commissioning of the Solar plant will be in April as planned.

"We are on track, the weather affected the project because in some days we have been experiencing heavy rains but still we are doing everything possible to meet the deadline," he said.

According to Leferink, the company had also shut down for up to nine days in January because they had registered a Covid 19 case and that limited number of people in a place has also affected the works.

"We want to try as much as possible to remain on track much as we do not know when the rains will stop and how the weather will be like but we are working very hard," Leferink added.

The Kanzimbe Solar project in Salima was scheduled to be complete in May 2020 but delayed due to among other issues Covid 19 and logistical challenges leading to the company setting a new deadline of April 2021.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson of Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi ESCOM Innocent Chitosi says the completion of this project will make a significant contribution to the grid and reduce power outages.

"This project will really help us as you are aware we have a deficit in supply and 60 megawatts is a lot that will greatly contribute to national development," Chitosi said.

Malawi has for years been solely depending on hydropower leading to enormous challenges prompting government to consider other sources like solar, and this will be the first huge solar power plant in Malawi.

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Last modified on Tuesday, 23/02/2021

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