Power supply woes temporary, says official

Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining director of energy affairs Lewis Mhango says Malawians should regard the current intermittent power supply as temporary, as government is working on interventions to curb the problem.

Speaking yesterday in Lilongwe on the sidelines of a national validation workshop on energy policy he said some of the interventions include purchasing and installing diesel-powered generators by Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom), the building of a coal-fired power plant at Kammwamba and connecting the country’s power grid to Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania.

Said Mhango: “We are equally concerned about the current power challenges, but there is a lot that government is doing to end them. Malawians should regard this as a temporary problem and it will be over soon.”

The energy policy, which was under discussion, was developed in 2003 and has never been reviewed due to lack of funds.

The ministry’s Principal Secretary Patrick Matanda said the validation workshop came at a right time the country is facing intermittent power supply and will help in providing solutions to the challenge.

He said between now and 2017, over 200 megawatts (MW) will be added on the national grid through diesel-powered generators and solar power plants. n