ESCOM, EGENCO Turn Up the Power Fight — Major Projects, Big Promises
Malawi’s two electricity giants, ESCOM Limited and Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO), say they are pulling out all the stops to light up the nation, despite a crippling power deficit that has left homes and businesses in the dark.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Lilongwe on Thursday, officials from both companies laid bare the challenges, admitted the pain, but promised an aggressive comeback — with new power plants, network upgrades, and a push for efficiency to close the gap between supply and demand.
Load-Shedding with a Plan
Director of Systems and Market Operator at ESCOM, Charles Kagona, said the utility is grouping customers by feeders, rotating load-shedding, and keeping essential services and industries powered where possible. “We’re using a first-out, first-in approach,” he said, adding that schedules are shared in advance to help customers plan. ESCOM is also negotiating with major clients to cut demand during peak hours, while maintenance crews race to strengthen old transmission lines — including the ageing Blantyre–Salima–Nkhotakota–Mzuzu stretch blamed for frequent northern blackouts.
Mega Projects on the Horizon
The blueprint for recovery is bold:
- 358MW Mpatamanga Hydropower Station
- 31MW Salima Solar with Battery Storage
- Rehabilitation of Nkula B and Kapichira I with over $118 million in AfDB and EU funding
- 80MW Chasombo–Chizuma Hydropower, 100MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine, and 50MW Salima Solar Phase 1
- 40MW Zoa Hydro, 180MW SONGWECOM Hydro, 50MW Mozambique Interconnector (by December 2025)
ESCOM is also signing up Independent Power Producers (IPPs), though CEO Kamkwamba Kumwenda admitted progress has been slow — with 10 signed PPAs since 2016 but no operational plants yet.
Why the Lights Keep Going Out
Currently, Malawi’s available capacity hovers at 350MW, far below peak demand of 413MW. With key units like Tedzani 5, Kapichira Unit 3, and Tedzani 2 offline — a combined loss of 73.8MW — the deficit sometimes balloons to nearly 190MW. That means continued peak-hour blackouts, especially mornings and evenings, until new supply comes online.
The power crunch has not only dented businesses but also driven more households to charcoal and firewood, threatening the environment. But both ESCOM and EGENCO insist the darkness won’t last forever.
“Our mission is clear — restore, expand, and modernise Malawi’s electricity supply,” said Kumwenda. “The road is tough, but the lights will come back brighter.”