The official opening of the meeting took place on Monday, 28th October 2019 at the Polytechnic ODL building and had academicians from the THI of Germany, Nelson Mandela University from South Africa, University of Zimbabwe from Zimbabwe, University of Zambia from Zambia, Botswana International University of Science and Technology from Botswana, Eduardo Mondlane University from Mozambique and the hosts including industrial partners from Mulanje Energy Generation Agency (MEGA). 

Malawi’s energy supply is dominated by biomass (firewood, charcoal, agricultural and industrial wastes), accounting for 84% of the total primary energy supply. About 15 million people do not have access to electricity, which is available to only about 10% of the total population. 

In the opening remarks, the Dean of Postgraduate and Research Dr. Peter Mhagama welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Polytechnic Principal, Professor Grant Kululanga.

“As UNIMA, we would like to welcome you all to the Polytechnic and specifically WASHTED. This meeting should be a platform for sharing ideas, learning and advising each other on the projects, which are being undertaken in Malawi concerning renewable energy,” he said.

The AIR Project Leader Professor Wilfried Zörner explained that the aim of the project was to come up with renewable energy high education programs, at both under and post graduate level in the Sub-Saharan Universities which should respond to the needs of the countries but also allow student and staff mobility within the region.

Different presentations were done by Kelvin Tembo on WASHTED projects overview, Charles Malemia on BIOGAS projects, Dr Tobias Bader and Chifundo Tenthani on AIR paper plus Professor Wilfried Zörner and Petra Beer on the AIR project achievements.

Later, the Dean of Engineering Dr Gregory Gamula took the delegates on a tour of the Polytechnic main campus where they appreciated different projects done by engineering students at the Design Studio and other departments.