Malawi in double tragedy power outage: Escom revives 6-hour load shedding

Malawi is expected to experience more prolonged hours of power black outs as the country has now lost 64.8 megawatts from Kapichira 1 power station.

Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) Board Chairperson Rev. Dr. Joseph Bvumbwe (2nd left) discussing with ESCOM and MERA officials at Kapichira power station

A statement from power generators, Electricity Generation Company Malawi (Egenco) says that Kapichira unit 1 and 2 are on emergency outage to replace obsolete and won out excitation systems.

“…the excitation system is crucial to the power plant. The two machines in this power station have of late been giving problems because of the obsolete and worn out excitation systems,” says the press release in part.

It says Kapichira 1 and 2, which was commissioned in 2000, has been performing well over the years until the last five years.

Egenco says beginning 2017, the company started procurement of a new excitation system for both units which was delivered by the manufacturer in September, 2019.

“We could not do these works any earlier s the same time we had Tedzani 111 unit 5 and 6 out on rehabilitation, uprating and modernization work which has seen the station being uprated with 10MW,” says Egenco.

 The statement says installation engineers from the suppliers ABB of South Africa arrived in the country on September 30 and are on site, saying it is expected that the two units will be available by October 12, 2019 after which generation at the station will be normalized.

Earlier, Escom said power black outs are now back in full swing due to inadequate electricity supply blamed on faults on low water levels.

In a statement, Escom says currently Aggreko generators are online but the main power supplier, Egenco, is experiencing restrictions to supply to Escom due to failure of their two machines at Kapichira and also failure of the 20MW diesel generators at Mapanga.

“This, combined with further decline in water flow, has resulted in reduction of available power by 86.48MW,” says Escom.

The power distributor says as such it has been forced to implement a six hour rolling power rationing.

Escom says customers have been divided into three groups of A, B and C, with one group starting from 5am to 11am, followed by 10am to 4pm group and the last load-shedding period from 3pm to 9pm.

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Asdf
Asdf
4 years ago

This country needs a saviour!!!

SAUNDERS
SAUNDERS
4 years ago

So the comments are indicating that at ESCOM and EGENCO, There are many Politically compromised people who are trying to prove that our voting for DPP was a mistake and are delibertly chocking the system with so many EXCUSES to punish Malawians?

Achiswe'.'
4 years ago

There can be no real progress and development without a regular supply of electricity. Building new roads and stadiums will do nothing for our country until we have electricity 24/7. The DPP Government should make this an absolute priority. How long do we have to wait before the President takes his finger out and faces reality?

Mtete
Mtete
4 years ago

Blame policy makers, not ESCOM/Egenco management. How much has been added to power generation system since September 2000? Zero. And has power demand remained static since then?
As for proper machine maintenance, this is virtually impossible because there is no spare generation capacity. A little tightening of bolts and nuts here and there is all the engineers can do.

Agreko Machines? Can’t be continuosly run. They s re diesel guzzlers. The revenue ESCOM makes just goes into paying suppliers of unwanted equipment and Agreko Machines diesel; what is left after millions of litres have been stolen. Ask SKC.

Mandado@147
Mandado@147
4 years ago

tiyenazo please put 8-12 hours for for all areas with high population of dpp people they voted for this!! they should get a taste of their own medicine. boma ilo (praising thieves) during elections water levels were all over sudden not long the shading was in full swing.

APOSTLE PAUL
4 years ago

TIPPEX GOVERNMENT

DR. JOYCE BANDA WAS A GLOBETROTTER BUT SHE NEVER ALLOWED BLACKOUTS DURING HER TENURE .

DPP HAS FAILED TO RUN THE AFFAIRS OF THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY THERE TO PROVE A POINT TO THE TUMBUKAS. FUCK PETER MATHANYULA

Ashamed Cadet
Ashamed Cadet
4 years ago

DPP has failed to solve the problems of power generation period!! You have given too many promises and excuses to be believe and trusted any longer.

Magalasi is one bossy and lying lomwe whom you just planted at MERA to enable your corruption in DPP. He fails completely to ensure that Egenco and Escom fulfil thier mandates!

You are only good at looting, nepotism, corruption and stealing! God will punish you APM. Amen

Cadets are losing trust in DPP and APM

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