Malawi’s ESCOM Signs PPA For 60 MW Solar Project

• ESCOM in Malawi has signed a PPA for clean power from the 60 MW Salima solar power plant in Malawi for an undisclosed tariff
• The PPA will be valid for a period of 20 years and was entered between ESCOM and JCM Matswani Solar Corp Limited
• Financial close on the project is expected in Q4/2018, with connection to the grid due in 2019

The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi Limited (ESCOM), the national utility of Malawi in Africa, has entered a 20-year power purchase agreement with JCM Matswani Solar Corp Limited for the 60 MW Salima Solar Project. JCM Matswani is a project company floated by Canadian PV developer JCM Power, InfraCo Africa Limited and Matswani Capital of South Africa.

This will be one of the  first commercial-scale solar PV plants connected to the national grid in 2019 of the African nation of Malawi. Financial close on the project is expected in the fourth quarter of 2018.

InfraCo Africa is investing $2.6 million in the project, leveraging $320,000 as grant funding from its sister company, Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG).

The Government of Malawi is looking at the Salima project as having a 'demonstration effect' for future private sector involvement in the country's energy sector, according to InfraCo Africa.

"This PPA is a crucial step in our roadmap to ensure that our customers have access to quality, reliable and safe power. Malawi has an enormous potential for solar energy and we are excited to walk this roadmap with JCM Matswani Solar Corp Limited," said ESCOM Chairperson, Dr Thomson Mpinganjira.

In February 2018, JCM Matswani was looking for EPC and O&M service providers for a 40 MW solar power plant in Salima, Malawi (see 40 MW PV Tender For Malawi).

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of South Africa issued a tender in September 2018 for a consultant to help develop a PV technology roadmap for Malawi (see Consultant Sought For PV Roadmap In Malawi).