Malawi to use fuel for top up power — Msaka

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Bright Msaka has said utility power  provider Escom will now use diesel for top up power.

He acknowledged the demand for electricity is just too huge.

Msaka said Escom has enough generators for the exercise which will lead to reduced power black out in some areas.

The Minister, however, said the situation would improve when the private sector joins the power generating venture.

“We cannot as government, generating power to satisfy the demand, this is why we have asked the private sector to join us,” he said.

He said already there is a commitment of 4000 megawatts of electricity from the private sector, saying this would go up after the government advertises for the same.

“This will no longer be the government responsibility,” he said.

Escom is able to provide power for two to three hours a day mainly at night and attribute this to low water levels in Shire.