In an interview with Renewable Watch, Ibrahim Matola, Minister of Energy, Malawi, spoke about the country’s priorities for accelerating renewable energy deployment and expanding electricity access. He discussed Malawi’s targets for scaling up both grid and off-grid solutions, and progress in rural electrification initiatives. He also shared key insights from his recent visit to India and emphasised the importance of global collaborations for a just and inclusive energy transition. Edited excerpts…
You had a meeting with Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. What was the agenda of the meeting?
First and foremost, I would like to thank the Government of India for giving us the opportunity to come here. Since the Climate Change Conference 2026 (COP26), India has committed to supporting many countries in Africa, and Malawi is one of them. We plan to have several projects under the International Solar Alliance and battery energy storage initiatives, with support from the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The meeting with the Indian minister was primarily to urge him to continue supporting Malawi in the renewable energy sector, as it is the key driver of the economy.
In Malawi, 80 per cent of our energy is from hydropower. However, we still need to diversify our renewable energy resources mix – the way India has done – and incorporate wind, green hydrogen, geothermal, etc. Going forward, we need collaborations to get the necessary technology transfers to achieve the energy transition.
What policy initiatives have you taken to increase rural electrification?
Rural electrification has been ongoing under the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme. Through this initiative, we have provided electricity to 460 trading centres, which are key commercial and service hubs in rural areas that host markets, small businesses, schools and clinics, and we plan to cover more in the coming phases. We are also targeting social infrastructure, with more than 200 hospitals set to receive electricity through off-grid solutions.
What lessons can Malawi take from India?
The visit to India has been an eye-opener. I have seen many buildings here with stand-alone rooftop solar systems, and I am told that many households are now moving towards such systems that allow them to generate electricity and sell it to the grid through net metering arrangements. We have also learned that solar integration with battery storage is crucial, ensuring that power is available at night. I brought a team of senior power sector stakeholders from Malawi so that they can see how Indian institutions coordinate and speak to each other instead of working in isolation.
What is your view on collaborations in the Global South to promote renewables?
We believe that collaborations among the Global South countries are crucial. Malawi and India were perhaps on the same page forty years ago, with respect to the uptake of renewables, but over the years, India has launched several initiatives in the renewable energy space and is now a leader. I thank the Indian prime minister for making commitments at the Glasgow COP26, which are now becoming a reality on the ground. Going forward, collaborations with the Global South should also be used to create more green jobs.
What expectations do you have from Global North for a just energy transition?
For a just transition, it is essential that we are given the time and space to determine our own pace of progress. “Leaving no one behind” can only be achieved if the Global North delivers on its pledged funding for climate resilience, particularly to countries facing significant challenges.
Most nations in the Global South are not among major contributors to global emissions, and it is only fair that they honour their commitments so we can successfully achieve our energy transition.
Could you speak about Malawi’s decentralised energy initiatives?
There are several initiatives supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, which have pooled resources to help us expand electricity access. One such initiative is the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation Malawi project. This project is funded with $245.8 million from the World Bank and also involves a clean cooking component with the aim of bringing electricity to over 4 million people and will go on till December 2025.
Another initiative is the Light Everywhere programme, which provides off-grid solar solutions for household lighting and mini-solar projects. With a population of 21 million, electricity access was less than half. Through these initiatives, we have increased access from 9 per cent to 26 per cent. With continued support, we hope to achieve 70 per cent access to electricity by 2030.
