Bolloré Logistics’ Malawian unit wrapped up the transportation for the Golomoti solar project, by moving 221 TEUS of solar panels, batteries and equipment from China to Malawi.

Relying on its expertise in this field, Bolloré Logistics was able to be part of a historic project, in producing the first solar utility-scale grid-connected battery energy storage system in East Africa.

The company supported the energy project by transporting 121 TEUS of solar panels and related infrastructure from various ports in China and 100 TEUS of batteries and assorted apparatus from Port of Beira to the Golomoti plant, located in the Dedza district – approximately 100 km south-east of Lilongwe.

Bolloré Logistics operated on behalf of two companies, InfraCo Africa, part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group, and its project partner, independent power producer JCM Power, a Canadian-based renewable energy company, committed to co-fund the construction of the Golomoti solar project.

“We are proud to be the logistics partner on a project of such magnitude. It will contribute to phasing out costly power imports and abating regional CO2 emissions, plus it will further support investor confidence and economic growth in Malawi. We faced many challenges but the main one was the global shortage of shipping containers in 2021, primarily caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to our expertise in logistics, we were able to deliver the required solar equipment and ensure the complex project was completed on schedule.” said Valery Djamby, managing director of Bolloré Logistics in Malawi.

Golomoti Solar will be the first commercial-scale solar photovoltaic plant in Malawi to include a BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), which will facilitate the delivery of much-needed clean power to Malawi’s national grid. The plant has the capacity to produce 60MW per annum that will supply electricity to approximately 75 000 households in Malawi. It will be fully operational by the end of March 2022.