Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) has attributed prevailing power generation challenges to shortfalls at its generation units which are operating below their installed capacity of 454.67 megawatts (MW).
The Egenco statement comes as a direct response to an update from the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) Limited which reported a 42MW generation deficit which reaches 83MW during evening peak hours.
Egenco said several generating units are operating below capacity due to faults, damaged equipment, debris and delayed spare parts procurement, reducing available electricity generation across Malawi.
It said that as of August 22 2026, all Egenco hydropower generation units were operational, except the 20MW-Nkula B Unit 6 which developed a technical fault on August 7 2026 and is currently out of service.
Reads the statement: “Nkula A Power Station is currently generating 24MW instead of its installed capacity of 35.1MW due to worn out turbine shaft seals.
“Tedzani Units 5 and 6 are operating at a combined reduced capacity of 5MW due to debris and stones accumulating at the intake following the impact of Cyclone Ana in 2022.”
Egenco said Kapichira Power Station Unit three (3) is generating 6MW below its installed capacity following the failure of its original transformer in May 2025 and is temporarily installed with a low rated transformer.
Repairs and spare-parts interventions should restore Nkula capacity by September–October 2026, Tedzani and diesel generators by December 2026, while Kapichira Unit Three awaits restoration by December 2027, according to Egenco.
Reads the statement: “Our teams are working diligently to restore affected generation units and strengthen the reliability of Malawi’s power supply.
“Government has been very supportive that almost USD8.1 million has been allocated for spares acquisition. We have since paid for the most critical spares through such support.”
The power producer has promised that in the short to medium term, it will accelerate the development of Wovwe II Hydropower Project (4.5MW) and phase II of the Salima Solar Power Plant (40MW).
Escom chief public relations and communications officer Pilirani Phiri said unexpected faults at generating stations result in additional load-shedding, extended durations or changes to the affected groups.
“At times, during daytime, solar PV plants may be intermittent causing production challenges. In such situations, Escom communicates reduced power availability to the public and implements measures to manage the available supply,” he said.
Phiri said Escom is implementing several initiatives to strengthen the electricity network, improve reliability and reduce the frequency and duration of outages.
He said the interventions include strengthening network resilience through infrastructure development such as the installation of concrete poles to replace wooden ones on critical sections of the network.
Commenting on the development, Centre for Social Concern economic governance programmme officer Agness Nyirongo said Malawi’s electricity deficit has long imposed substantial economic costs.
She said: “Businesses lose productive hours during blackouts, machinery is damaged by power fluctuations and many firms incur additional expenses through the use of diesel-powered generators. These costs are ultimately passed on to consumers through higher prices for goods and services, contributing to inflationary pressures.
“Therefore, increasing available electricity supply has the potential to lower business operating costs over time, improve industrial competitiveness and stimulate economic growth.”
About 25.9 percent of the population has access to electricity, including grid and off-grid connections, with rural access much lower. This remains far below the Government of Malawi’s target of 70 percent access by 2030.
Malawi has a total installed capacity of 564.2MW, comprising 401.8MW from hydro, 51.4MW from diesel and 111MW from solar sources as produced by Egenco and other players, according to Escom data.
