Lawmakers on blackouts fact-finding mission

Members of the Parliamentary Joint Committe have said they will come up with a report to address perpetual electricity blackouts in the country.

In an interview on Sunday after visits to Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) power plants, including the Tropical Cyclone Ana-damaged Kapichira Hydro Power Station in Chikwawa, Parliamentary Joint Committee chairperson Simplex Chithyola Banda said they are engaging stakeholders in the energy sector to understand issues that need to be addressed.

He said: “There is blame-game among players in the power sector. We have noted that there are issues within their operational structures choking service delivery.

“Before finalising our report, [this week] we are visiting each of them to appreciate their field works and causes of power outages.”

Chithyola-Banda said Malawians should know that key players in the energy sector are working hard to provide electricity to people.

Egenco assistant public relations officer Mervin Mchenga said they have employed short and long-term measures to sustainably restore power generation at Kapichira, whose damage in January this year knocked 130 megawatts (MW) off the national grid.

“One of the major challenges leading to the power crisis is the damage at Kapichira. However, we have started works to be completed in December 2022 which will allow the plant station to start generating power by December 22 2022,” he said.

With Kapichira out of the national grid, Egenco’s hydro power plants generate 260MW, with 51.36 MW from thermal plants.

The country’s electricity demand is projected at about 618MW and this development has increased the deficit to 488 MW.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee, which is also expected to visit Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi and Power Market Limited, comprises members from trade, industry and tourism, legal affairs, natural resources and climate change and public accounts committees.