Escom, Egenco launch automated control system
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola says provision of reliable and uninterrupted power supply is essential for the country’s sustainable economic growth and attainment of Malawi2063, the long-term development strategy.
He said this yesterday in Blantyre during the launch of an automated generation control system designed by Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom), Electricity Generation Company of Malawi (Egenco) and Southern Africa Energy Programme (Seap) to improve power stability in the country.
Previously, Escom and Egenco were managing their generation controls through separate national control centres while local power plant operators were doing so using telephones.
“With this technology, we are poised to optimise the generation and distribution of electricity, thereby, minimising power supply disruptions and enhancing the overall performance of our energy infrastructure” Matola said.
Secretary for Energy Engineer Alfonso Chikuni hailed the collaboration between Escom and Egenco, but warned that technology should not entirely replace people because it can lead to job losses.
According to Escom board member Jacob Mwazalale, Escom and Egenco have closely worked together to set up this system by connecting two generators at Kapichira and another two at Tedzani Power Station to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (Scada) system at Escom’s national control centre.
United States Agency for International Development (USaid) bankrolled the technology and USaid Malawi director for sustainable ecnomic growth Jeff DeGraffenreid said the US is proud to partner with the Government of Malawi to help improve people’s living conditions.
