Energy minister Ibrahim Matola has fired warning shots to people who plan to sabotage Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi(Escom) substation rehabilitation works in Lilongwe.
He said this on Friday, when he launched the project at Lilongwe Urban Escom Offices.
According to Matola, the K23 billion-worth project is a milestone in the energy sector as it will improve power supply in Lilongwe.
”Our distribution infrastructure, in terms of transmission from sub-stations, is lacking, considering that these were investments made decades ago. We are talking about over 40-50 years ago.” Matola said.
Matola commended the Japanese government for supporting the initiative, saying Malawi’s development will be accelerated through the provision of adequate power supply for both household and industrial needs.
”The infrastructure is old and cannot cope with modern demand, which is high and supply is low,” Matola said.
Japanese Ambassador to Malawi Satoshi Iwakiri said the Japanise government has provided a K23.1 billion grant to finance the rehabilitation of two Escom key power distribution substations.
The project is expected to expand and refurbish Kanengo Power Substation and rebuild and refurbish Old Town Power Substation.
”Supporting the rehabilitation of the substation is one of the priority areas outlined in Japanese official development assistance cooperation with Malawi,” Iwakiri said.
Iwakiri said his government is committed to supporting Malawi’s efforts to enhance the socio-economic development, including infrastructure development in the energy sector.
He said it is estimated that the country’s energy demand will rise to 1155 megawatts by 2025; hence the refurbishment of the two substations will enable more people to meet their daily electricity needs through efficiency.
He said the refurbishment would also increase economic activities in the city, since inadequate power disrupts industry performance.
The two substations are in bad state as they were built in 1967 and are not matching the current energy distribution technologies, resulting in power distribution losses in Lilongwe. The old Town substation was the first infrastructure constructed in Lilongwe and receives power from Mkula Power station for distribution to the capital city. The country’s energy production capacity is at 441.96mw against a projected demand of 800mw.
Source: The Daily Times_July 18, 2022_By Rabecca Chimjeka