Energy Profile: Malawi

This energy profile report presents an overview of Malawi’s energy sector, highlighting critical data and trends in production, consumption, and access. As of 2015, Malawi produced 252 ktoe of electricity, with 98.4% derived from hydropower and minimal input from fossil fuels or renewables like solar and wind. Biomass remains the dominant energy source, accounting for approximately 88.5% of national energy needs, largely used for cooking. Access to electricity is among the lowest globally, with only 9.8% of the population connected in 2012—2% in rural areas and 37.1% in urban areas. The report underscores significant reliance on imported refined oil products and the environmental impacts of biomass use, particularly deforestation. It outlines key government initiatives aimed at improving energy access, efficiency, and sustainability, including rural electrification, solar PV rollout, and promotion of energy-saving cookstoves. Malawi's institutional and regulatory landscape, underpinned by the 2003 Energy Policy, also plays a central role in driving ongoing reforms.