Escom to combat blackouts: Bring 46 megawatts on grid from fuel
Malawi sole power utility says it is bringing in an extra 46 megawatts of power from fuel generators onto the grid in a move to combat persistent power blackouts.
ESCOM public relations manager Kitty Chingota said the commissioning of the fuel generators start this March with 10 megawatts in central region.
“By the end of the year, all generators will be up and running. The coming in of the 10 megawatts will minimise loadshedding,” she said.
She said by 2017, Blantyre will produce 20 megawatts, Lilongwe 20 megawatts and Mzuzu 6 megawatts.
Escom is in major load hedding exercise in all major cities with electricity on for just three or two hours a day crippling the already crippled economy.
The company blames low levels of water in shire river saying less than half of hydro generating machines are operating due to the low water levels.
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PLEASE KEEP THOSE PLANS TO YOURSELF. TIKUVUTIKA NDI MA BLACKOUT PANO AND SOMEONE IS TALKING OF MINIMIZING BLACKOUTS BY 2017. WHAT IS 40 MEGAWATTS?THE POPULATION IS ALSO GROWING FASTER THAN YOU IMAGINED AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING CONNECTED. SO STOP FOOLING YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!
Going the diesel generation way is not the best option. Diesel is very expensive and don’t be surprised rates going up following this development. We can harvest wind energy in and around Jenda and some parts of Mvera. That should be the option. Kenya, Ethiopia, among others, have gone that way. Why not Malawi.
I think we need experts in energy to advise properly on the energy mix that can be sustainable for our economic growth. Many people think of solar and wind to be cheap but I guess not. Our colonial masters encourage African countries to use clean energy while they use coal. They have developed using coal, up until now a higher percentage of their energy source is coal. They enjoy massive economic development using coal energy. They have polluted the environment to the effect that rainfall shall never be reliable again and Africa is the most vulnerable. We have the obligation… Read more »
pollution mwaiganizira? utsi tipilile nawo? solar bwanji? Good idea but think of environmental friendly ways of generating more power
It is good news to consumers. But why can Escom invest in Solar energy to avoid fuel costs ?
I heard this lady talking on TV. Please Escom do not talk like you are talking to kids. I went to Chikwawa yesterday, Shire River is overflooding. So what Madam Chingota is talking my be she is talking of the situation of two weeks ago. Why can escom be serious for once. No excuses now, or just tell te nation that you have failed. We are really tired of this and you a better keeping your lips tightly closed will be good for us.
Why cant we try Solar or wind energy it is free and we can save forex
Generate energy from solar power………no the Kammwamba coal plant nonsese….solar power is environmental friendly…………use your brains not your feet for you to be innovative……….Escom..inagulisidwa kale Tapiwa akuzakhala C.E.O
Now you are thinking. We also need the solar energy the government talked about in 2015 then Kammwamba coal generated energy basi APM woyeeeeee!
Where will you guys be getting the fuel from ? Fuel is quite expensive, it might just raise the cost of electricity and therefore the cost of production, thereby worsening the current economic situation.