The electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi(Escom) has told the Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament that blackouts are expected to worsen in the country.
Escom Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Kamkwamba Kumwenda said this when he appeared before committee members on tuesday.
He said the removal of some megawatts from the national grid has resulted in the situations.
”The country is already experiencing prolonged power outages per day after Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) lost 78 megawatts due to the cancellation of a deal with Aggreko and, as we are going into the cold season, load shedding will be worse,” Kumwenda said.
He disclosed that 10mw generated from the re-commissioned tedzani II equipment rehabilitation works will be ready before the year ends.
The Escom boss added that a possible solution to the problem is the Mozambique interconnection project expected in two years, and Mpatamanga.
He told the committee members that the country should not depend much on solar grids because they depend on sunshine, which is not predictable-expecially as we are going into the cold season.
Ralph Jooma, a member of the committee who sat in for chairperson Gladys Ganda, said blackouts were an issue of great concern, citing small scale traders as the most affected.
”We are glad that the blackouts have not affected big industries but, come the months of June and July, the load shedding is expected to be worse, as we are going into the cold season. We are worried about the revenue the country is expected to lose,” Jooma said.
Jooma said the Executive arm of the government should find a way to fill the gap that Aggreko left by purchasing generator sets.
Some months ago, heavy storms affected Tedzani IV, with floods pushing rock boulders into the water exit channel of the power machine, making it impossible for Egenco to close the water channel when workers want to de water the channel.
They are expected to build an isolation wall around the mouth of the exit channel to create a dry working area to facilitate the removal of rock boulders.
Source: The Daily Times_May 26, 2022_By Rabecca Chimjeka