Minister of Lands Chimwemwe Chipungu has commended the introduction of Malawi’s Net Metering Rules and Electric Mobility Regulatory Framework, saying the initiative marks an important step towards diversifying the country’s energy sources.
Chipungu said the new regulations would help reduce electricity costs, encourage private sector investment in renewable energy and minimise the country’s dependence on imported fuels.
He made the remarks on Wednesday after attending the official launch of the Net Metering Rules and Electric Mobility Regulatory Framework at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
The launch was presided over by Minister of Energy Jean Mathanga and was held under the theme, “Accelerating Malawi’s Energy Transformation through Regulated Electric Mobility and Distributed Generation.”
Chipungu said net metering would allow households, businesses and institutions to generate their own electricity using solar power and feed surplus electricity into the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) grid in exchange for electricity credits.
He said the arrangement would help consumers reduce their electricity bills while promoting access to affordable and reliable energy.
The Electric Mobility Regulatory Framework, on the other hand, provides guidance for the adoption of electric vehicles and the development of charging infrastructure in the country.
The launch was organised by the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) and ESCOM.
Before the launch, Mathanga visited the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) offices in Lilongwe, where she toured a net-metering facility and an electric vehicle charging system.
The introduction of the two regulatory instruments is expected to encourage investment in renewable energy, diversify Malawi’s energy mix and support the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient energy sector.
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