Karonga Bakery Cooperatives to Benefit from Solar Energy

Community Energy Malawi (CEM) has launched a two-year solar energy project to transform bakery operations in Karonga district.

CEM Chief Executive Officer Edgar Kapiza Bayani introduced the project to District Executive Committee (DEC) members on Thursday. He emphasized that the project aims to empower communities with clean energy solutions for economic growth.

“The shift to solar energy will not only reduce the environmental impact, but will also lower production costs,” Bayani said. Currently, bakeries use 100 kg of firewood daily, equivalent to 500 kg weekly.

“The project will provide local bakeries with large solar-powered ovens, which will replace the conventional use of firewood and charcoal and this shift will not only help in preserving the district’s forests but will also make bakery operations more cost-efficient enabling cooperatives to offer more affordable products to the local community,” he added.

At Walamba village, Mulare in the area of TA Kyungu, CEM will plant 5,000 trees through the Nkhongono Kuwanthu cooperative.

Karonga District Environment Officer Khumbo Mbeye praised the initiative, citing the district’s abundant sunlight. “The introduction of solar ovens will not only help preserve our natural resources but also enhance the efficiency and productivity of local bakeries and create new jobs,” Mbeye stated.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action through Germany’s International Climate Initiative, with a total budget of the project being about €206,000 . The direct investment in Karonga is €80,000, (equivalent to about MK156,000,000).