Malawi blackouts continue, ESCOM warns of more power outage

Malawians should brace for frequent power blackouts as the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has said the country will continue to experience a shortfall in electricity supply, a development that will negatively impact on the business community and crucial services.

Mwapasa: Brace for more blackout 

In a letter addressed to the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), Escom Chief Executive Officer Evelyn Mwapasa said their customers, the business community including hospitals will from time to time be experiencing load shedding.

“As you might be aware, the country is experiencing electricity supply shortage due to, among other factors, inadequate hydro electricity generation arising from low water levels on Lake Malawi and reduced flows on Shire River.

“Reports so far show that the country will continue to experience a shortfall in electricity supply unless the country receives normal to above normal rainfall for a period of about five years consecutively, or effective short to medium term interventions are implemented,” the letter, dated July 31 2017, reads in part.

Apparently, Mwapasa wrote MCCCI to invite its members to Escom’s regional meetings organized to update electricity users on the status of electricity supply in the country.

She claimed that they would to paint a clear picture of the situation to enable consumers plan better for the challenge.

“Whilst we are implementing some interventions to minimize the impact of the challenges on our customers, it is essential that our customers especially the business community and crucial services like hospitals, put up mitigation measures to minimize the impact,” said Mwapasa.

Meanwhile, the Millennium Account Malawi (MCA-Malawi) observed that to improve electricity generation through reduced sedimentation in Shire River, there is need for communities living along this river basin to take part in sustainable use and management of natural resources such as forest cover and land.

In September 2013, Malawi government was given $350 million for the implementation of energy projects with MCA-Malawi as a local implementing agency of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) energy compact.

With the funds, Malawi looks forward to improving the availability, reliability, and quality of the power supply by increasing the throughput capacity and stability of the national electricity grid and increasing efficiency of hydropower generation through investment in Infrastructure Development Project.

The compact also seeks to create an enabling environment for future expansion of the power sector by strengthening sector institutions and enhancing regulation and governance of the sector through investment in the Power Sector Reform Project; and also to mitigate the growing problems of aquatic weed infestation and excessive sedimentation in the Shire River Basin to reduce the costly distruptions to Malawi’s hydropower generation through investment in Environmental and Natural Resource Management Project.

The initiative is expected to run until September 2018.

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winston msowoya
winston msowoya
6 years ago

53 years of independence,our people are exposed to dire blackouts while government funds ended into personal bank accounts in foreign lands.How do our doctors carry on with their jobs in surgery rooms without power? Nepotism is one of the causes of the blackouts,people of sagacious knowhow are being cutoff from opportunities in the ESCOM and those with little experience,are employed hence,the blackouts.These blackouts have been on the offing for quite a long time and the government does not care provided the President and his serviles are adequately receiving enough power.It is indeed,shameful in the sense that,our government fails in everything… Read more »

Chijioke
Chijioke
6 years ago

P**** panu nonse a ESCOM ndi mbuyanu yo. Nosense this is the only development that DPP and their master knows. Kuzimitsa magetsi. Why bother telling us yet it has become a norm magetsi daily kumakhala kulibe. You must be very stupid!!!. Funsani nzeru kwa Joyce Banda how she managed to curb blackouts agulukunyinda inu.

Daniel
Daniel
6 years ago

DPP PLAN CHITUKUKO CHA DPP NDI KUZIMISAZIMISA MAGESI

Mahera
Mahera
6 years ago

No need to explain to us. We are already used to blackouts

Matako anga
Matako anga
6 years ago

So what will be the situation like when 50 million litres per day are pumped out to Lilongwe from Lake Malawi?? kkkk sovereign state. Escom says water levels low in Lake Malawi and eventually in Shire river. Mr Ibu says project wont be halted. Malawi is a Sovereign State. We are watching!!

Desire
Desire
6 years ago

So this woman hasn’t brought anything new? Bola engineers omwe aja!

zinenani Zoona
zinenani Zoona
6 years ago

The Mwapasa’s are enjoying. ESCOM CEO: Mwapasa; Police Deputy: Mwapasa.

Neymer
Neymer
6 years ago
Reply to  zinenani Zoona

This woman was in the civil service reform commission. After the commission, she and Seodi gave themselves jobs in the same service they were reforming.
So don’t expect any positive outcomes from her and Seodi. They are there to serve themselves.

Chakwera
Chakwera
6 years ago
Reply to  zinenani Zoona

Ndiwophunzira….koma akanakhala atumbuka

Kaloswe
6 years ago

Stupid!

Nganiza Muthulika
6 years ago
Reply to  Kaloswe

How can one run a business in this country? 2013 my I had to close.my small business which was going well despite it was small. There were No electricity for 3 months. I lost all customers some were angry. I had to rent of 3 months. The money I had to cough from my pocket. Went bankrupt. Why can they fnot find another sorce of electricity? Even in Europe they are going to sola. Malawi rerly on.one sorce. I met Sola investors but told me its so corrupt. Everywhere they Went in the ministrial they had fun demands which showed… Read more »

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