By Ulemu Mbengwani
After struggling to secure employment following his graduation, Andy Kapindu decided to venture into entrepreneurship by founding a company called Energy and Sanitation Engineering Eagle (ESEE). Little did he know that what lay ahead was not going to be a smooth ride or anything close to it.
Kapindu, a renewable energy engineer by profession, has always been passionate about finding practical, local solutions to everyday energy and sanitation challenges. He focuses on developing technologies that are affordable, sustainable, and suited to the needs of Malawians.
“I was inspired by the way waste is handled in our communities and the potential we lose every day as a result. I had a deep desire to apply what I learned to create real impact,” he says.
“The lack of job opportunities after graduation also motivated me to create my own path instead of waiting to be employed. I wanted to build something that could help me earn a living while also solving real environmental and energy challenges faced by Malawians,” he adds.
Driven by this vision, Kapindu focused on developing innovative solutions that could address everyday energy and sanitation challenges.
He is developing unique biogas systems. Unlike conventional septic tanks that require frequent pumping and offer no added value, his systems are self-sustaining, reduce waste, produce clean energy, and improve soil health all at once.
“We make biogas digester septic tanks, and what makes them different is that they not only turn household organic waste, such as kitchen scraps, fruit and vegetable peels, and grass clippings, into something useful, but also convert sewage into a valuable resource,” he says.
“Instead of letting this waste cause problems, our systems convert it into biogas that families use for cooking, while also producing bio-fertilizer that enhances soil fertility and increases crop yields,” he adds.
To ensure that the systems are safe, durable, and truly beneficial to the community, Kapindu and his team prioritize safety and environmental protection. They spend time teaching customers how to safely handle and use bioslurry, the remains from a biogas system, particularly for those using digester septic tanks. This training helps customers make the most of the system while protecting both their health and the environment.
“The systems are designed to be completely sealed, ensuring there are no leaks or contamination risks. We use high-quality polyester fabric and strong welding joints to guarantee safety, and every system is pressure-tested before it is handed over to the client,” he says.
Alongside his work with biogas systems, Kapindu has developed other solutions for everyday challenges faced by small-scale farmers and households. Beyond biogas septic tanks, he also constructs solar dryers. These help small-scale farmers and households preserve foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish in a clean and efficient way. This reduces spoilage and post-harvest losses, especially during the rainy season, and allows for longer storage periods and the possibility of selling products at better prices later.
However, his journey was not smooth as challenges took a heavy toll on him. His biggest challenge came when the first pilot project failed. He had marketed the idea to local dairy farmers and even selected one household for installation, but the system only produced gas for about 15 minutes.
“That experience was tough because I had invested all my savings and lost the trust of potential customers. But instead of giving up, I took it as a learning experience. I studied what went wrong, improved the design, and slowly rebuilt confidence in the product,” he reflects.
“The failure actually became a stepping stone. It taught me resilience and the importance of continuous improvement. I just continued looking for opportunities to grow. Later on, we were blessed to win the Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (SEED) Awards in 2021,” he adds.
Kapindu emerged as Runners-Up and received a grant of 1,500 Euros, support that he believes came at the right time. This helped us purchase essential equipment, polyester fabric to start production, and some biogas accessories.
“It really boosted our confidence and marked a turning point for ESEE,” he recalls.
Building on these successes, Kapindu is now planning to expand ESEE’s range of products to meet more community needs. The company has already recorded significant milestones, particularly with the successful development of new technologies that did not exist before, such as polyester fabric biogas systems and biogas digester septic tanks.
“Our long-term vision is to become one of the leading companies manufacturing export-quality polyester fabric biogas systems. We want to democratize biogas technology in Malawi, making it more affordable and accessible for both households and institutions like schools,” he says.
Kapindu is also planning to expand their range of polyester fabric products to include silo bags, backyard fish ponds, and water tanks. The ultimate goal is to make their biogas digester septic tanks a household name, promoting sustainable waste management and clean energy across the country.
The company plans to expand the product line using the same polyester fabric material. Starting next year, he intends to produce silo bags capable of storing between 60 to over 100 (50 kg) bags of grain without the use of harmful chemicals.
“This initiative aims to help farmers save money and preserve their grain safely after harvest. I also plan to introduce backyard fish ponds made from polyester fabric, which will be affordable, space-saving, and easy to install. This will allow more Malawians, including those in urban areas, to venture into fish farming,” he says.
If Kapindu could go back, he says he would focus more on research and testing before launching the first pilot project, though he does not regret the experience as every mistake taught him something that helped the company improve.
“My advice is simple — don’t give up. There will be moments when you feel like quitting, maybe because customers aren’t coming or your product doesn’t work as expected. But those moments are part of the journey. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward,” he advises.
“Do not despise humble beginnings. Many people delay starting because they want to begin with perfect, world-class products. But you don’t need to have everything at once. Start with what you have, where you are, and trust God to guide your growth. Most successful companies didn’t start with perfect products; they started with a vision, persistence, and faith,” he concludes.
Kapindu expressed his sincere gratitude to all customers and organizations who continue to support and trust his work. He also appreciated those who have already shown interest in the upcoming silo bags that will be available for sale next harvesting season. He added that their encouragement means a lot to him, as they are the reason he continues to improve, innovate, and believe in what he does.
