Escom imports of electricity poles cost Raiply K2.5 billion
A local timber plantation company has lamented that Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) decision to import poles for electricity has cost the company K2.5 billion risking local jobs.
Raiply managing director Krishna Dassi has told minister of Labour Ken Kandodo that the state run power distribution company stopped buying local poles for electricity in 2018.
“This has a significant negative effect on the employment of the local workers in the country. In fact, we have lost K2.5 billion,” said Dassi.
The Tonse alliance government has tall order to create one million jobs within a year.
Kandodo said he would discuss the matter with relevant authorities, including Escom to see the way forward.
Many commentators have questioned the rationale of importing wood poles when supplies are available locally.
But Escom spokesperson Innocent Chitosi s explained that the decision to import poles was due to concerns of capacity and quality of local supplies.
He said the Raiply poles lasted for a year only whilst durable original poles last for 15 years.
But according to Raiply management, there has not been any formal complaint from Escom about the quality of the poles.
Dassi said said Raiply has been maintaining high standards for poles certified by the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS).
To be honest i don’t like amwenye, MBS is ineffective, these Indians make poor quality thing and they sale at a higher price while MBS looks
To be honest Raiply is the only reliable timber supplier in the country. So it terms of timber quality they are the best locally available supplier.
We need Standards in this country and we know, that MBS is never helping us on this! Especially substandard technical equipment, spare parts and building materials we depend on, are terrible, dangerous rubbish! This causes more lives and economic damage than Covid 19 can ever do! We need a international recognised standardisation body and not a local corrupt government institution like MBS, which eats our business moguls of Asian origine, out of hand! Hon VP this hugh building behind the Trade Fairground in Blantyre means nothing, as long the people working there, believe more in money than in Standards! If… Read more »
Why using timber Poles use cement blocks or metal ones they last long akapoli inu.
I think we need to get things straight. It’s not just about buying local because it’s local. Unless the quality improves keep importing. If anything government should assist them with the technical skills required to produce what ESCOM requires.
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These Raiply guys need to up their game too! This did not come as a surprise. The quality of some of their products leaves a lot to be desired. They however do not want to give good products at competitive prices. They should be fined for the bogus poles they supplied in the past too.
These Raiply Indians shouldn’t cry wolf. They bought that forest on the cheap and destroyed all its beauty without replanting the trees. They should just go away!
who won the poles tender inquire plzzzzzzzzzzzz ACB YOU WILL FIND THE TRUTH IN PLAIN SIGHT 2.5BILLION IS A VERY BIG AMOUNT ARREST THEM ITS ALSO PART OF 40 BILLION DEBT BY ESCOM
Very poor analytical skills. Which University
Corridor did you swing
Same University where ur father was swipping the corridors all his life
I see we have all stop thinking and having common sense. Tonse gossip poison
These guys compromised on the quality of their poles big-time.A pole from Timberg RSA is well treated and has an average lifespan of 29years while our local poles last a maximum of three years only.
I agree A few years back I had a friend of mine who had constructed a house upun puting the pole which was new the pole fell straight away because of chiswe… found out the pole was from raiply
ACB please start your enquiry on this issue where there is smoke there is fire.