06 Jun 2018
Salima Solar: Starting the journey to 40MW of renewable power
InfraCo Africa, JCM and Matswani to develop one of Malawi’s first commercial-scale solar PV plants.
Salima Solar will combine the expertise of leading developers to develop, finance, construct and operate one of Malawi’s first commercial-scale solar PV plants.
Malawi’s government has identified energy as a key driver for the country’s economic growth, but demand for energy far outstrips supply – a gap that is likely to widen as mining and manufacturing industries expand.
Now national utility ESCOM and others have invested in upgrading the grid network and new regulations have been developed to reassure independent power producers.
Projects like Salima Solar are among the first to move forward and will be replicable for future private sector involvement in Malawi’s energy sector.
InfraCo Africa is uniquely positioned to provide patient risk capital and expertise to bring bankable infrastructure projects to market in countries such as Malawi. It can also access key grant and debt funding where required, prioritising the development of pioneering, replicable projects that can establish precedents in those countries that most need them.
InfraCo Africa and its partners have now been granted permission to proceed with acquiring land 75km east of Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, to progress the Salima Solar project.
It could mobilise up to US$60m in investment from the private sector and development finance institutions and is expected to provide power to Malawi’s national grid by next year.
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