Escom says facing 27MW power deficit

Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) Limited says it is facing about 27 megawatts (MW) power deficit during evening peak hours, a development that has compelled it to implement power rationing.

In a written response, Escom chief public relations officer Kitty Chingota said from 6.30pm, the electricity demand reaches an average of 396MW against the available 370MW power supply.

However, she said that during the day, Escom receives an average total of 460MW from both hydro and solar power electricity generation, but could not justify why power outages also happen during the day.

Said Chingota: “The power supply during the day is around 460MW, including solar. However, at 18.30pm when the peak of 396MW occurs, the sun would have set hence there is no solar power.

“Therefore, we are left with the supply of about 370MW from hydro power stations only; hence, the deficit that necessitates the load shedding.”

In a separate written response, Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) spokesperson Moses Gwaza said the company’s generation capacity was at 441.95MW.

However, he said as of Tuesday this week, the generation company was producing about 398.67MW from all its hydro-power stations.

“Actual generation or the amount of power being given to Escom each minute depends now on system demand,” said Gwaza.

Yesterday, there was a two-hour power blackout around Ginnery Corner and surrounding areas in Blantyre from around 11.20 am to 1.23pm.

On the other hand, some residential areas such as Ndirande, Kanjedza, Zingwangwa and Chilobwe in Blantyre experienced long hours of load-shedding with parts of Chilobwe Township staying without electricity from 9pm on Monday to around 5pm on Tuesday.

Harold Chidzamika, a tailoring shop owner in Ndirande Township expressed worry with the persistent power blackouts.

“These power blackouts are slowing down businesses. The problem with my business and most businesses is that we cannot operate without electricity,” he said.

Currently, Malawi has a total installed capacity of 554.24MW of power of which 101MW is from solar sources, according to Escom.