An energy expert has issued a scathing warning over Malawi’s crumbling power infrastructure, demanding that state-run distributor Escom urgently overhaul its maintenance and monitoring systems to put an end to the country’s persistent power blackouts. Grain Malunga didn’t mince his words, branding the ongoing system shutdowns that continue to plunge the country into darkness as […]
The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has confirmed that power has been restored to most parts of the country following the mysterious nationwide system shutdown that plunged Malawi into darkness at 7:11am on Sunday. The utility revealed that restoration efforts kicked into gear almost immediately after the outage struck, with supply gradually returning region […]
The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has confirmed a nationwide system shutdown that struck at 7:11am today, plunging homes, businesses and institutions across the country into darkness with no immediate explanation for the sudden power loss. In an urgent notice issued this morning, the power utility revealed that technical teams have been rapidly deployed […]
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) has raised expectations for a more stable power supply following the commissioning of a 20MW/40MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a project the utility hopes will begin addressing the country’s chronic electricity shortfalls. ESCOM spokesperson Pilirani Phiri said the system would work by capturing surplus power during periods of […]
Minister of Energy Dr Jean Mathanga has said government is intensifying efforts to expand electricity access in rural areas through the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) project and the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP), as the country transitions from MAREP Phase 9 to Phase 10. She said the two programmes remain key […]
Fury has erupted over Malawi’s crippling electricity blackouts, with a leading human rights group demanding the government “come out clear” and stop hiding behind press statements as the crisis wreaks havoc across the country. The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has issued a blistering attack on ministers, accusing them of failing to give Malawians an […]
Government and the national power utility have both moved this week to address Malawi’s persistent electricity outages, with ministers pointing to new generation projects while ESCOM appeals to consumers to cut demand during peak hours. Minister of Energy Dr Jean Mathanga told Parliament on Tuesday that government fully appreciates the inconvenience and economic losses caused […]
Minister of Energy Dr Jean Mathanga says government plans to expand electricity access are moving ahead through rural electrification programmes and new investments in power generation. Speaking on the sidelines of parliamentary proceedings, she said the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP) remains the main vehicle for connecting underserved communities, with constituencies required to submit proposals […]
Malawi’s state electricity utility has announced that it is replacing ageing wooden poles with prestressed concrete alternatives along two key transmission lines, citing improved durability and lower maintenance costs. The initiative is welcome. It is also, by itself, wholly insufficient. The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) says its Prestressed Concrete Poles Project will cover […]
The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has increased electricity tariff by 10.6 percent effective 30 March 2021, arguing that the upward adjustment was long overdue. This means that electricity tariff has been adjusted from K94.43 to K104.46 kilowat per hour. Mera Consumers Affairs and Public Relations Officer Fitina Khonje told journalists that the decision to […]
The Malawi power grid is soon expected to receive a combined 75 megawatts (MW) of coal and solar power generated from a single hybrid power plant to be located at Wovwe in Karonga district. This follows a successful review and preliminary approval of an unsolicited IPP proposal submitted by African Energy and Power Ltd (“African […]
A 15-year old boy has died in Mangochi after he was electrocuted by live electricity wires. Malawi Police deputy spokesperson in Mangochi Amina Tepani Daudi has identified the victim as Ashraf Umali. Daudi says the incident occurred on the evening of March 16, 2021 at Mtagaluka village, Traditional Authority Chowe in Mangochi. It has been […]
Energy minister Newton Kambala said the government will soon be implementing phase 9 of Malawi Rural Electrification Program (Marep) to light up the whole country. Kambala was responding a question from back-benchers in parliament. He told the House that the government is doing a survey on the implementation of the Marep phase 9 and the […]
Five babies are said to have died last night at Dowa district hospital due to power outage. Nurses who were on night shift held a crisis meeting this morning to discuss the issue. Women in labour ward delivered in torch light, due to negligence emanating from a faulty back up power generation. Patient guardians at […]
Malawi government will terminate contracts of Independent Power Producers (IPP)s whose works have stalled for invalid reasons risk their licences being revoked, Minister of Energy Newton Kambala has warned. Kambala said his ministry intends to audit the progress of IPPs and that those who are not serious will be replaced. The stance by the minister […]
Power utility Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has announced that it will implement a countrywide load shedding programme due to inadequate power supply from electricity Generation Company (Egenco). Escom in a statement issued by its public relations manager Innocent Chitosi said the load shedding programme is “temporary” but could not indicate how long normal supply […]
Vice-President Saulos Chilima has expressed dismay with persistent power outages at the Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc), when various events are in session, branding it lack of seriousness. The Vice-President called out the Bicc management in relation to a five-minute blackout that occurred as he graced the African Institute for Development Policy (Afidep) dinner Friday […]
State Vice President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima says the Salima Solar Project is critical in addressing the Malawi’s irritating power shortages. He made the remarks when he visited project site in Salima today. Chilima, who is also the Minister of Economic Planning and Development, has today embarked on a tour of public project sites to […]