More electricity blackouts for Malawi: Egenco says low water levels in Shire river to blame

Long hours of electricity black out days are back in Malawi with Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) saying this is due to low levels on Shire River.

Most parts of the country are having no electricity for as long as six hours or more, in the process choking production in all spheres of economic life.

Egenco says in a statement that the water in Shire river was 1.5 metres last year during the drought and has just risen just by 0.26 metres this since the onset of the rains.

According to Engenco,  the water has just risen from 473.5 metres from 473.0 metres in the river not enough to drive the power generation machines.

Egenco says it is controlling water at Liwonde Barrage to ensure that power generation continues.

However, Malawians in social media including Facebook are expressing concern that the electricity black out are happening at a time when the country is experiencing heavy rains and heavy flooding.