MEGA Micro-Hydro Impacts
Larissa Duma,
Masters Student, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh.
News and Blogs
Powering the BBC World Service
In March 2016, Bondo village hit the world stage, sharing its news with 300 million people from each corner of the globe. The BBC World Service broadcast live from the village with a morning programme exploring the solutions to Africa’s energy poverty crisis. MEGA was recognised as a pioneer in off-grid electricity supply in rural areas. Interviews with people in the village described how access to electricity can transform lives and livelihoods.
Productive Use of Energy to Spur Economic Growth
Arnold Kadziponye,
Project Coordinator,
Mulanje Renewable Energy Agency (MuREA)
MEGA is Malawi’s first licensed Independent Power Producer and currently generates 60kW from hydro power and has 280 customers. It serves the village health clinic and two schools, namely Kabichi Primary School with an enrolment of 1505 pupils and Kabichi Secondary School with an intake of more than 400 scholars. The excitement in the village was immense after seeing that it is indeed possible to generate electricity from the same river found in their village.
MEGA Demonstrate Technologies Fighting Poverty
Victor Chambayika Mhango,
Country Representative,
Practical Action Consulting-Malawi
In a country of 17 million people, it should not be acceptable that only 1% of those living in rural communities have access to clean energy. Lack of access to modern energy services is a major obstacle to the delivery of socio-economic services such as education and health in most developing countries in general. This is particularly so in Malawi where 85% of the population live in rural areas but only 1% have access to electricity.