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Water level rise boosts power generation

 

Relief! Malawians should expect improved power supply this month as the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) yesterday said there is slight rise in water levels in Lake Malawi and Shire River, which would help improve on electricity generation.

Last month, Escom warned customers to brace for prolonged hours of blackouts following the continued dwindling of water flows in the Shire River and Lake Malawi.

But in response to a questionnaire yesterday, Escom public relations manager Kitty Chingota said there is a step up in electricity generation due to the improvement of water as a result of the rains that have been falling in most parts of the country.

Chingota: There is an improvement
Chingota: There is an improvement

As at February 8 2016, the flow of water was 158 cubic metres per second—an improvement over the recording in December at 154 cubic metres per second and much better than the lowest recorded flow of 121.19 cubic metres per second that was registered on November 25 2015.

But the figures remain well below the required threshold.

“Escom requires 240 cubic metres per second of water flow to operate on full capacity,” Chingota said.

She said the improvement in power generation has also been attributed to the fact that some of its major customers who draw a lot of electricity for irrigation have reduced the amount of electricity they use and are instead taking advantage of the rains.graph

The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has for the past two weeks forecasted heavy rains in all three regions of South, Central and North.

In an earlier interview, Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) president Newton Kambala said in times of prolonged electricity blackouts, companies experience huge loses.

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