EU targets 12 000 jobs in renewable energy

The European Union (EU) says it is targeting to create 12 000 jobs once construction works of the Centre of Vocational Excellence at Mzuzu Technical College is complete.

EU Ambassador to Malawi Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi said this on Tuesday during the ground-breaking ceremony of the renewable energy training centre at the institution.

Gaztelumend: There are several options.

He said they conducted an assessment which indicated the project will create jobs in the renewable energy sector and shift the country’s reliance on hydropower energy source.

Said Gaztelumendi: “Hydropower remains king in the country but there are several options in the renewable energy that need to be utilised if we train our students with necessary vocational skills. They include biomass, biogas, photovoltaic and solar energies,” he said.

The €55 million (about K106 billion) project is expected to be completed around September next year under the Zantchito Skills for Jobs Project with funding from EU.

Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation Joel Chagona said the students’ training facility is key to transitioning energy use from hydro to other renewable energies in the country.

He said: “It’s a flagship project that will accelerate the Malawi 2063 agenda through the teaching of skills and use of renewable energy.

“To transition from hydro energy to the other renewable energy, we need to train our student with relevant skills and thus, the infrastructure we are launching will be used to train the students in that regard.”

EU implements the project along with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which executes technical expertise.

UNOPS’ East and Southern Africa director Massimo Diana said they will ensure quality delivery and on-the-ground execution of the project through strict enforcement of contractual standards.

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