The Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. Dr. Jean Mathanga, MP, today conducted an official tour of Raiply MW Ltd in Chikangawa, Mzimba, underscoring Government’s commitment to strengthening Malawi’s energy sector and promoting local industrial production.
Raiply MW Ltd is currently generating 10MW of electricity from biomass out of which 6MW is for own use, with a reliable supply of 3MW to the national grid through Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi Limited (ESCOM).Speaking during the visit, Hon. Mathanga emphasized Government’s resolve to support such private sector investments:
“Today’s visit is a reaffirmation of Government’s commitment to strengthening the performance, reliability and sustainability of our power sector. Power producers like Raiply MW Ltd are key partners in closing the gap between electricity supply and demand,” said the Minister.
The Minister further assured the company of continued collaboration with ESCOM to improve grid stability, noting that:
“Government is working to ensure a resilient grid and will continue working closely with ESCOM so that power producers operate without challenges.”
Beyond power generation, the Minister witnessed briquette and pellets production which is used for cooking. In addition, the visit also focused on local production of electricity transmission poles, an area critical to reducing Malawi’s dependence on imports and easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
The Chief Executive Officer of Raiply MW Ltd, Mr Krishna Das highlighted the company’s readiness to support national electrification programmes, while calling for better planning coordination:
“We have invested in planting over 200 hectares of bluegum trees for pole production. However, for us to plan efficiently, it is important that MAREP and ESCOM inform us in advance of the quantities of poles they will require,” said Das.
The CEO also raised concern over challenges in accessing foreign currency to procure chemicals required for treating electricity poles, a matter that directly affects production capacity. In response, Hon. Mathanga assured the company of Government’s intervention:
“We have heard your concerns on foreign exchange constraints. As Government, we will engage relevant authorities and lobby for forex allocations to ensure that local manufacturers like Raiply continue to operate effectively,” the Minister assured.
The Minister further reaffirmed Government’s commitment to the Buy Malawi Strategy, stressing that supporting local producers safeguards jobs, conserves foreign exchange, and builds national self-reliance.
The visit reaffirmed the importance of public–private partnerships in delivering Malawi’s energy ambitions under Malawi 2063, with renewable energy and local manufacturing positioned as pillars for a resilient and self-reliant economy.
