Officials from the Sitolo Solar Mini-Grid project in Mchinji District say they are planning to upgrade their system, which is currently generating 80 kilowatts from 250 solar panels.
The electricity is distributed to over 850 households and plans to reach up to 1,500 customers, with tokens purchased starting at a minimum of K1,000.
Three villages Sitolo, Molosiyo, and Ndawambe are directly benefiting from the solar power initiative as communities are located about 15 kilometers away from the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) power lines.
The project is supported by UNDP and GEF, and implemented in partnership with the Department of Energy and Community Energy Malawi.
Peter Davison Banda, one of the engineers from the site, described the initiative as life-changing to the communities, saying that solar power has enabled community members to run businesses and improve their livelihoods.
However, he acknowledged poor weather conditions as a major challenge to generating sufficient energy, despite the system being backed by 474 storage batteries.
Residents shared testimonies of how the project has transformed their lives, as Annie Nyendwa said she is now able to pay school fees for her children and expand her business due to affordability of the electricity.
Another customer, Edado Dector Phiri, who uses power in his thatched house, commended the initiative, saying the K20,000 connection fee was worthwhile as he can now access renewable electricity at a low cost.
Similarly, entrepreneur Gabriel Chisale, who uses the electricity for sunflower milling and oil production, emphasized the need for system upgrades, noting that the growing customer base is putting pressure on current capacity.
Meanwhile, Oxfam Malawi Policy and Development Manager, Macpherson Mdalla, pledged continued support for renewable energy solutions across the country.
He noted that Sitolo Solar Mini-Grid demonstrates how communities can transform their lives through clean and innovative technologies.
“Many players are now embracing renewable energy, and as a country we are making good progress. Such initiatives need to be promoted to boost both sustainable development and the economy,” said Mdalla.
Through its Peace Project, Oxfam is also advocating for access to sustainable and clean energy while collaborating with the media to enhance accurate reporting.
