The US embassy in Malawi says preparations are at an advanced stage for a project to rehabilitate energy infrastructure in Malawi, which will be financed through a $350-million compact grant from US agency the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
US embassy acting public affairs officer Heather Dresser reports that the Malawi government and the Millennium Challenge Account-Malawi office are currently in the final stages of preparations for the official launch of the project, which will improve a number of areas in Malawi’s energy sector.
The MCC, which suspended the grant for Malawi under the country’s past administration owing to its failure to adhere to good governance principles and respect for the rule of law, reinstated the compact grant for Malawi last year after being satisfied with the reforms undertaken by the current administration of President Joyce Banda.
Dresser says MCA-Malawi has now filled all its key positions and launched processes for critical equipment and other supplies.
She says, after the official launch in September, MCA Malawi will proceed with work to finalise the designs for the electricity infrastructure rehabilitation component of the project.
“The schedule is that invitations to bid will be advertised in mid- to late 2014,” she says.
The US federal agency resolved to assist Malawi in developing its energy sector after studies indicated that a lack of reliable power was among the key hurdles hindering development in the country.