The World Bank has tipped Malawi to hasten implementation of reforms in the energy sector if the country is to attain its aspirations of substantially increasing electricity connectivity by 2030.
This advice is contained in the World Bank’s 17th Malawi Economic Monitor, a bi-annual publication, published last week.
The Bretton Woods institution notes that fast-growing sales of Solar Home System (SHS) have driven the increase in electricity access between 2020 and 2023, with on-grid connections remaining stagnant at around 12 percent.
The World Bank says expanding the grid connectivity is essential to achieve universal access of electricity.
Universal access by 2030 would require an annual connection target of close to 500,000 per annum.
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“This is over 15 times faster than the current speed and calls for a complete overhaul of the implementation model of Escom and the Malawi Rural Electrification Project, requiring streamlined and transparent processes, efficient contractors, and a larger and dedicated delivery unit,” the report reads.
This is coming at a time the government has backtracked on some of the planned reforms in the sector.
However, implementation of projects such as the Malawi Electricity Access Project (Meap) is raising hope at the institution of enhancing electricity access.
Meap Project Manager MacDivings Longwe recently said efforts were made to narrow the backlog.
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Access to accessible reliable electricity is one of the key pinnacles for development in line with aspirations embedded in the Malawi 2063.
