Energy
EGENCO upbeat on Likoma Power Project despite Covid-19 hiccups
June 09, 2020 / Tawonga Nyirenda Mayuni
The Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) says it is recording tremendous progress in the Chizumulu and Likoma Islands solar electrification project despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Senior PRO for EGENCO Moses Gwaza says currently overall progress of the work is at 39% for Likoma and 31% for Chizumulu.
“We are making progress, the Islands Solar Power Supply project is taking shape despite logistical challenges posed by the pandemic,” he says.
Gwaza explains that, among other things, Covid-19 affected manufacturing and shipment of some components needed in the plants.
“At some point in time, the progress of the project was at a standstill as contractors’ site officers were locked down in China and were in self quarantine upon arrival in Malawi,” says Gwaza.
He says, further to that, the project faced the challenge of flooding of the sites due to heavy rains as well as delays in tax waiver approval for equipment and other materials.
The solar project is being solely funded by EGENCO to the tune of about US$4-millon.
The project started on August 15, 2019 and was scheduled for completion by July 15, 2020 but Gwaza says the contract duration may be extended due to the logistical challenges posed by the global pandemic, which has forced airlines to suspend international flights and many countries to close their boarders.
Once completed, the solar-diesel hybrid plant is expected to supply electricity for the whole day to the people of Chizumula and Likoma who were having only 14 hours of electricity per day.
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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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Remediation:
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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