By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, October 4, Mana: Secretary for Mining, Dr Joseph Mkandawire, has expressed satisfaction with the recently concluded Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and Power Sector Coordination pre-lab meeting, stating that the initiative will help remove bottlenecks hindering the energy sector.

Speaking during the closing ceremony in Lilongwe on Thursday, Dr Mkandawire, commended participants for their teamwork, dedication and commitment.

He expressed confidence that the forthcoming main delivery lab would mark significant progress in addressing the identified bottlenecks.

"As we transition to the main lab next week, we anticipate thorough discussions on issues identified in the pre-lab, some of which will be addressed during problem-solving sessions," said Dr Mkandawire.

He hailed the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) for the financial and technical support towards the meeting.

Director for Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), Dr Enwell Kadango, said the meeting pointed 19 critical issues, with nine in need of dedicated problem-solving sessions to be held during the main delivery lab.

Kadango emphasized that PDU would engage various key stakeholders on cost-effective tariffs during the main delivery lab.

He underscored Malawi's target to enhance its energy generation capacity to 1,000 megawatts by 2030, through initiatives such as the Mozambique interconnection programme and the full implementation of the Independent Power Producers (IPP) for Power Production Plan.

Director of Electricity in the Ministry of Energy, Million Mafuta, stated that the pre-lab provided a platform to thoroughly examine challenges facing the energy sector in the country.

Mafuta expressed optimism that once these issues are addressed in the main delivery lab, the energy sector will undergo a significant transformation.