Malawi pleads for assistance towards achieving sustainable energy for all

MALAWI: Malawi's Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola, has pleaded with developed countries to assist Malawi in achieving SDG 7 Sustainable Energy for All.

The minister made the remarks at the Sustainable Energy for ALL forum, which is currently taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, where think tanks are advocating for a just and equitable energy transition in African countries.

According to Matola, the Malawian government is transitioning to the use of clean energy by distributing solar panels to rural health centres and has stopped generating power with diesel generators.

"Indeed, Malawi is facing challenges in producing electricity; the problem arose after the country experienced the effects of the cyclone, which destroyed hydro-power generation dams; this demonstrates the effects of climate change, and thus a need to switch to clean energy such as solar and wind-mill power," Matola said.

He went on to say that Malawi is in energy debt and that financial assistance to transition to clean energy is critical.

The forum has various meeting segments, ranging from high-level meetings to youth participation meetings in just and equitable energy transition.

From 17 to 19 May, the SEforALL forum is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, with government officials, United Nations representatives, civil society organisations, researchers, scientists, and young environmental activists demanding access to clean energy in order to achieve SDG 7 by 2030.

Bloomberg Philanthropies announced 242 million US dollars in Clean Energy support to ten developing countries at the forum to aid in the transition to a clean, affordable, and efficient energy system.

SEforALL has collaborated with the Rwandan government, private sector, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and the World Resource Institute (WRI) to host the event in Kigali, Rwanda.