The Electricity Corporation of Malawi (Escom) says it will increase its power output in Lilongwe following the rehabilitation of some of its substations.
Escom chief operating manager Maxwell Mulimakwenda made the remarks after touring Kanengo and Lilongwe Town substations on Wednesday that have been installed with five transformers donated by the Japanese Government.
Japan handed over the transformers to Escom on Monday.
Mulikwenda said the transformers will raise the city’s total power output from 167 megavolt amperes (MVA) to 255MVA, which will strengthen Escom’s capacity to expand its power distribution and connect more customers within the district.
He said: “This will help us serve our customers better. The Kanengo Substation was transforming 85MVA which will increase to 165MVa while Old Town was transforming 37.5MVA and will increase to 50MVA. This is very commendable development.”
The transformers have the capacities of 50MVA for one while the other four have the capacity of 25MVA. Mulimakwenda said the old equipment will be installed in other areas such as Nkhotakota to improve electricity transformation and distribution.
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola said the transformers will support the transmission lines constructed under the Millennium Challenge Corporation Ernergy Compact.
The ministry’s Principal Secretary Alfonso Chikuni said the project is being financed with grant to the tune of K23 billion. The project, which runs for three years, is currently at 78.2 percent completion.
On his part, Embassy of Japan Charge d’affaires Sheiji Tashiro said priority areas for the Japanese Country Assistance Policy for Malawi are on quality growth.
“This project aims to support the people of Malawi to have access to improved transmission and distribution of energy for reliable and stable supply of electricity in Lilongwe City,” he said.
Source: The Nation_Friday, June 30, 2023_ by Jacob Nankhonya