The governments of China and Malawi have signed an agreement to install and supply mobile solar power systems in the southeast African nation
According to Malawi government officials, the agreement was signed in the capital Lilongwe. The solar units to be installed would cost US$10mn, and consist of 250 solar-operated streetlights as well as 533 mobile solar systems. In addition, solar units would also be installed at hospitals across Lilongwe.
Goodall Gondwe, minister of finance in Malawi, said, “On behalf of government and people of Malawi, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude for this donation, which will go a long way in alleviating electricity challenges currently being faced by our rural health facilities.”
Malawi, located in southeast Africa, has suffered without proper access to electricity for several years. Only nine per cent of the country has access to the national power grid, stated a report in Esi Africa. The solar system installation would enable health facilities in remote communities to gain access to the grid. Mobile off-grid solar systems are known to be reliable, providing outputs of up to 2,000MW to the agricultural sector.
Zhang Qingyang, Chinese ambassador to Malawi, added that the mobile systems would play an important role in improving the livelihood of the locals. In 2011, the country received a US$350mn grant from the USA government to overhaul the energy sector.
