Malawi Electricity Innovator
Metadata
- Malawi Electricity Innovator
- February 12, 2024
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: MALAWI ELECTRICITY INNOVATOR HEADLINE: Malawian Innovator Electrifies Homes Amid Skepticism From Experts TEASER: A secondary school dropout says he has created a groundbreaking air-powered generator, bypassing use of fuel, oil or batteries PUBLISHED: 02/12/2023 at 8:30AM BYLINE: Lameck Masina ASSIGNING EDITOR: Purnell Murdock DATELINE: Dowa District, Malawi SCRIPT EDITORS: sb, Holly Franko VIDEO FROM: VOA Original PLATFORMS: WEB, TV X, RADIO _X VIDEO APPROVER: Marcus Harton TRT: 3:32 TVPKG APPROVER: MAS EDITOR NOTES :)) ((INTRO)) [[A secondary school dropout from rural Malawi has brought electricity to his community using what he says is a groundbreaking air-powered generator, bypassing use of fuel, oil or batteries. Experts have questions about how the system works, but Malawi’s government is pledging support. Lameck Masina reports from Dowa District.]] ((NARRATOR)): Inventor Ernest Andrew’s innovation largely aims to save money villagers spend in buying torches and batteries to light their homes. ((Ernest Andrew, Inventor)) ((in Chichewa language 10 secs)) “After realizing that we were facing a lot of problems without using electricity, I thought of trying to make electricity. Now, here we are.” [[Radio Track: He says they were facing a lot of problems without using electricity and he thought of trying to make electricity and now all is well.]] ((NARRATOR)) The 18-year-old secondary school dropout says his generator produces 1,000 volts of electricity. He has now connected nine houses from a self-made transformer. ((Ernest Andrew, Inventor)) ((in Chichewa language 10 secs)) “This system generates electricity using air. To make a light bulb illuminate, I use power stored in bottles. I experiment with magnetic power to determine how much electricity I can produce. After that, I generate power based on the number of houses I want to supply.” [[Radio Track: He says this system generates electricity using air. To make a light bulb illuminate he uses power stored in bottles. He experiments with magnetic power to determine how much electricity he can produce. After that, he generates power based on the number of houses he wants to supply.]] ((NARRATOR)) But experts complain of Andrew’s failure to articulate how he is using air to generate electricity, or they say he might be purposely concealing it to prevent others from copying. [[Radio Track: Allie Katumba is an electrical engineer and a specialist in power generation in Blantyre.]] ((Allie Katumba, Electrical Engineer)) ((in English, 30 secs)) “What type of air he is using, we don’t know. What air is doing to produce power, we don’t know, and he is not saying. How is he taking air into his system to produce electricity, we don’t know, and he is not explaining. So how can we appreciate, how can we assist as engineers?" ((NARRATOR)) Katumba says if proved real, Andrew’s innovation would be rated among the most extraordinary in the world. The innovation has convinced skeptical neighbors. ((Mary Phiri, Neighbor)) ((in Chichewa, 11 secs)) “I was among those who were doubting his ability to generate electricity which we can use in our homes. But when I saw that he had managed to connect his parents’ house, that's when I asked him to connect my house too. Now life is simple.” [[Radio Track: Mary Phiri is among those benefiting from free electricity. She says she was among those who doubted his ability to generate electricity that they can use in their homes. But when she saw that he had managed to connect his parents’ house, she asked him to connect her house too. Now life is simple.]] ((NARRATOR)) The villagers also use the free electricity to charge phones and plug in electric shaving machines. ((NARRATOR)) Andrew’s mother, Evelyn Chinguwo, says he dropped out of school in 2018 because of lack of school fees. ((Evelyn Chinguwo, Andrew’s Mother)) ((in Chichewa, 19 secs)) “I am appealing to well-wishers to assist this boy to continue with his education like sending him back to school to improve his innovative ideas because the knowledge he is using now is inborn.” [[Radio Track: She is appealing to well-wishers to assist Andrew with his education, like sending him back to school to improve his innovative ideas because, she says, the knowledge he is using now is inborn.]] ((NARRATOR)) Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola recently expressed appreciation of the invention. ((Ibrahim Matola, Minister of Energy)) ((in English 13 secs)) “Such innovations can make us achieve access to electricity. But not only access – affordability and sustainability.” ((NARRATOR)) Authorities in Dowa District have donated training, electric wires, protective wear and a gadget for measuring electricity voltage. [[Radio Track: Mercy Mpakule is Director of Planning and Development for the Dowa District Council.]] [Mercy Mpakule, Director of Planning and Development)) ((in English 17 secs)) “One thing that we are going to do as a district [is] to make sure that whenever he is working on his appliances [he] is safe.” ((NARRATOR)) The Malawi government has organized a group of experts to critically look into the innovation and identify areas to assist. In the meantime, Andrew is working to connect the entire village and to fulfil the government’s request to illuminate a nearby public primary school. Lameck Masina, VOA news, Dowa District, Malawi.
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date February 12, 2024 08:29 EST
- Byline Lameck Massina
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America