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Toshiba, Malawi reach power deal

By , ITWeb
Malawi , 04 May 2018

Toshiba, Malawi reach power deal

Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba) and Malawi's Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining (MNREM) have concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) centred on a comprehensive partnership in geothermal power projects including capacity building programs in relation to the technology.

Under the terms of the MOU, Toshiba will collaborate in the development and supply of major equipment for a geothermal power plant, develop operation and management guidelines, and facilitate capacity building programs.

Toshiba aims to contribute to the early construction of the plant, and to supply geothermal power generation equipment, including a 1-10MW type of "GeoportableTM," a wellhead geothermal power generation system, in the future.

According to information supplied by partners, virtually all of Malawi's current power generation capacity is from hydro.

"As the country lies to the west of the Great Rift Valley, it has rich geothermal potential. Adding geothermal to the energy mix will increase generation capacity in the country and contribute to the stable supply of clean energy," reads a statement issued by Toshiba.

Toyoaki Fujita, Business Development Executive of Toshiba, said, "Our record to date covers delivery of 56 systems, with a total capacity of 3,628MW. We are delighted with this opportunity to work with MNREM, and to use our established expertise to contribute to geothermal power supply in Malawi."

Toshiba concluded MOUs with geothermal power development companies in Ethiopia in 2014, Tanzania in 2015 and Djibouti and Uganda in 2016 - all covering comprehensive collaboration in the geothermal power generation business.

Toshiba will continue to contribute to stable electricity supply and the realisation of a low-carbon economy across the globe.

According to new research by technical and business services organisation, Lloyd's Register - Technology Radar 2018: Renewable Energy, renewable energy sources will only overtake fossil fuels in African countries' energy mixes in 2033.

The study notes that taken together, renewable sources are expected to surpass fossil fuels in countries' energy mixes first in Europe and North America (by 2025), in the Middle East by 2028, and in Asia-Pacific and Africa in 2033 or later.

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