Escom tells industries to brace for power cuts

Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has told industries to brace for more power cuts because water levels continue to dwindle in Shire River and its source, Lake Malawi.

The power utility company said this on Tuesday in Lilongwe during a meeting with captains of industry.

It says while the demand for power is at 391 megawatts, generation capacity is at 351 megawatts.

Escom system operations and power trading manager Patrick Kadewa said the situation has forced the company to start load shedding programmes.

“As a mitigation measure, Escom is bringing diesel power generation and interconnection with independent power producers that generate power using solar energy,” said Kadewa.

But Escom regional manager for the Centre Ngwile Mwenefumbo said in an interview that the move would not affect the economy as measures were being taken to ensure the load shedding is done during weekends or at night when there is little or no production.

He, however, said load-shedding will continue until normal rainfall starts, probably in December.