Energy
Likoma Island glows under solar power supply
December 02, 2020 / Tawonga Nyirenda Mayuni
The construction of a solar power plant to supply Likoma Island with 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity has earned the Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) praises.
Before the solar energy supply, Likoma and Chizumulu Islands were powered by 14-hour long diesel generated electricity.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the power plant at Likoma, Traditional Authority (TA) Mkumbwa III thanked EGENCO saying that the new electricity supply plant will go a long away in developing Likoma Island.
He stressed the need for business people and even the government to invest in Likoma through the construction of hotels and other businesses so that the island develops through tourism.
CEO for EGENCO William Liabunya said that the power utility constructed the solar powered plant to do away with the high environmental risk associated with diesel generated electricity as well as to avert the danger of using and storing diesel.
“It was costly to bring diesel to the Island. The logistics of getting the diesel in drums, into a ship then offloading and floating them to land. It was very costly and dangerous.” he said
Liabunya remarked that the coming in of the 24 hours’ solar electricity has improved the socio-economic life of the people of the two islands while ENGECO has reduced the costs of managing diesel engines.
ENGECO was using 17 million Kwacha every month to supply electricity to the islands for 14 hours only.
EGENCO has invested K3.2 billion in the solar project but Liabunya said that the project is worth the investment as the power plant will operate for many years.
Energy Minister Newton Kambala said that his ministry is commitment to supply energy to the nation and that he was very happy to supply Likoma Island with 1000 kilowatts while Chizumulu Island has received 300 killowatts.
Kambala acknowledged the developments activities that the power supply project has triggered for the islands and has since promised to liaise with the Ministries of Public Works and Transport, Tourism, Education and Health to coordinate on development activities for the islands.
He said Likoma Island is a beautiful place that can bring a lot of revenue to the country through tourism and hence the government will ensure that it develops.
“This is a very good place where we can attract a lot of tourists if we can invest in proper infrastructure in terms of hotels and good roads, this can bring into the country the much needed forex,” he said
EGENCO has so far pleaded with the people of Likoma to take care of the power plant and not to vandalize the panels in order to ensure a sustainable power supply. TA Mkumbwa has since said that the Chiefs of the area will see to it that the power plant is safeguarded.
The 3.2 billion project started in August 2019 and was expected to end in July 2020 but was delayed by logistical complications related to the Covid-19 outbreak which restricted some technical teams from coming to the country. The solar plant was constructed by NR Electricals, a Chinese Contactor.
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The establishment of a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem, but not necessarily the one that existed before mining began. In many cases, complete restoration may be impossible, but successful remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation can result in the timely establishment of a functional ecosystem.
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The cleanup of the contaminated area to safe levels by removing or isolating contaminants. At mine sites, remediation often consists of isolating contaminated material in pre-existing tailings storage facilities, capping tailings and waste rock stockpiles with clean topsoil, and collecting and treating any contaminated mine water if necessary.
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