Power blackouts need a blackout

You do not need to be a prophet to prophecy when your area will experience a power blackout. Not that your supply will be disconnected for non-payment, but you are not immune from compulsory load shedding by the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom).

Decades ago, Escom used to generate excess power.

Currently, it is facing power supply shortage estimated at in excess of 100 megawatts (mw) despite thousands of customers being on the waiting list for decades or being asked to procure own materials.

For starters, almost 95 percent of Malawi’s electricity is provided by hydropower plants located on Shire River and Wovwe River in Karonga.

According to Escom, total installed capacity stands at 365mw, with 339mw as available capacity.

Escom is left with a shortfall of 126.2mw before any mitigation and 90mw after mitigation.

This translates to constant load shedding. Without this, the electricity provider’s system may simply collapse where demand exceeds installed capacity.

But domestic customers have been severely hit by load shedding as Escom prioritises the industry.

Previously, we had Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi which was later incorporated as a private company on July 29 1998.

According to the corporation’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, Escom’s business bundle included power generation, transmission, distribution and retailing electricity services nationwide.

On January 1 2017, through unbundling process, Escom was given a new mandate. The power to generate electricity was given to a new company named Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) to pave way for more players to join the electricity generation industry.

With all these developments, what has short-circuited that abundant season of excess supply?

This is the billion megawatt question most Malawians would have loved to be answered instantly.

Powers that be need to declare a national power crisis bearing in mind that Escom has indicated that irksome load shedding ‘may increase’ in the coming months before next rainfall season.

Why has Malawi solely depended on hydropower for decades despite Lake Malawi showing dwindling levels due to draughts and other phenomenon for years?

With the lapses at Nkula A and B, why have we not looked elsewhere for alternative sources of energy?

Why Escom was allowed this far to enjoy a monopoly status over power generation and distribution when most sectors were opened up to reforms.

The country has missed out on independent power producers (IPPs)?

Malawians are paying the price for political interference, mismanagement and poor planning at Escom.

Escom is striving to do its part, but it is not doing enough and getting the support it needs from the citizenry.

By vending light emitting diodes (LED) bulbs, Escom is managing the demand side.

The company is considering hiring 78MW emergency generation equipment to run six hours a day on diesel. This will translate into a tariff increase.

Currently, Escom is encouraging industries to shift operational hours.

As the situation gets worse, Escom is of the view that industry will be required to shift production hours or operate on dedicated days of the week.

Moving forward, the country needs to attract such IPPs-the likes of investors like those planning of installing 70MW of solar.

The current Japanese sponsored solar project at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) needs to be replicated across the country while attracting more of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compacts as a way of power sector revitalization initiatives.

As a long term measure, promote interconnection with our neighbours beyond the 4MW with Mozambique.

Allow Malawi to be cured of this power scourge.

The country has the potential to become a net exporter of power in the region.

We seem to be blind to such a reality.

Finally, may we all join hands to shed power blackouts before our economic aspirations are shed by load shedding. n