Malawi brace for massive blackouts: Escom shuts down Kapichira II

Electricity users should expect massive blackouts from October 10 through to October 27 as Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) begins to services it machines at Kapichira II power plant.

The utility body has since requested its customers to be calm as it starts servicing two machines at Kapichira II power plant  which provide 32 Megawatts.

Mtonda: Calm
Mtonda: Calm

The two machines which were commissioned on December 27, 2013 need to undergo maintenance before the defects liability period wraps up, according to Escom Director of Distribution and Customer Services, Peter Mtonda.

“One machine will operate at a time while the other is switched off, meaning there will be 32 megawatts only at a time beginning fromOctober 10 to 27,” Mtonda said.

Some of the major defects are shaft seal, cooling water piping and machine turbine control panels.

“Considering the negative impact the outage could have on our customers, the Corporation initiated negotiations with the contractor to explore possibilities of reducing the outage period and hence the settling for 17 days,” said Mtonda.

He said they bought the two power generating machines at $55 million and are currently under a warrant period of one year.

“Before the warrant period close we agreed that any defect will be the responsibility of the contractor, hence the servicing,” he emphasised.

In March this year, the Corporation also closed the same power plant for 28 days to repair the same shaft seal machine following its leaking.

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ble
ble
9 years ago

Thanx escom 4 de info,enanu osat nyooo apaa!

Nonono
9 years ago

Zonsezitu mwana wa abiti ntila Roy uja adaotchetsa ESCOM chifukwa chochita supply fake equipment and failing to supply but geting paid. Inu cashgate pamenepa simukuiona?

Mbanangwa
9 years ago

Rubbish waning! You charge exorbitantly and you fail to buy proper machines. You created several managers who are simply depleting resources of the company with no work being done. Shame!

Harrison Bvumbwe
Harrison Bvumbwe
9 years ago

We are tired of your lame exuses. Is there no matured people who can last this problem of black outs? Talembani Nchitozi anyamata ophunzira osati nkhalamba kumangokakamila mu ofesi.

yuona
yuona
9 years ago

Kwa amene amazitsata apa palibe nkhani. Mbulinu muzingolongolora poti munazolowera kutero. Thanks ESCOM for the info!

Losambo
Losambo
9 years ago

Wowve is just a booster, the whole country uses Nkula electricity Mr/Mrs Chindere

Tony
Tony
9 years ago

ok but make sure the bills should also be reduced since the usage will be reduced tiwona ma bill a mwezi uno ndi wathawu mwatikwana kutibera inu a ESCOM

zinjaphropus
zinjaphropus
9 years ago

malawi need more power not kukoza dzakalekale, a escom ndimu auchitsiru eti!

Pacharo
Pacharo
9 years ago

Tiyambirenso zomwe zija za ma black out!

pierra
pierra
9 years ago

Let us hope ESCOM will be calm about ppo with – holding bill payment until discounted for the poor service rendered them!

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