Spurred by the sheer need for sustainable and clean energy for the financially-struggling south-east sub-Saharan nation, one of the two powerful Bretton Woods institutions, World Bank has supported Malawi with $250.8 million (about K435.6 billion) under the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation Malawi (Ascent Malawi) Project.
The World Bank zero-waste project aims at increasing an access to sustainable and clean energy and It is expected that with the grant, Malawi will push access to electricity from the current 25.9 percent to 70 percent by 2030.
World Bank Managing Director (Operations), Anna Bjerde, congratulated Malawi for the funding during the signing ceremony at the Julius Nyerere International Conventional on Monday.
Bjerde said the resource has come as a result of confidence with Malawi in the way government has moved in increasing access to electricity by 50 percent from 12 percent to 25 percent within just four years.
Said Bjerde: “That’s so remarkable that your country has been able to double access to electricity. Looking ahead, Malawi targets to increase access to 70 percent in six years, and it is ambitious and doable.”
Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, on his part, shared a personal story that he grew up in an area without electrify.
President Chakwera said he made it a target to ensure that all Malawians have access to electricity.
“And I can’t thank the World Bank enough, through you, Ms. Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of the World Bank, and your team, for this gift to the Malawian people.
“And thank you for your trust in my vision and commitment to put these resources to good use,” said Chakwera.
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithyola Banda signed the agreement on behalf of the Malawi government, while Nathan Belete, the country manager for Malawi, Tanzania Zambia and Zimbabwe, represented the Bank.
“That’s so remarkable.”
Anna Bjerde
World Bank Managing Director, Operations
