Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) will start importing electricity from the border towns of Zambia and Mozambique reports The Nation.
Escom is load shedding extensively, due to lower water levels in the river used in the main source of the hydropower leading to low generation capacity of 210 megawatts to 250 MW against the usual capacity of 351.5 MW.
According to a statement by the company, Escom plans to import power through connection at distribution level from Mozambique border towns and Zambia border towns as well.
However, Escom is looking for Malawi – Zambia, Malawi – Mozambique interconnection deals for electricity in the long run. The deal with Mozambique is already on track but Malawi is still negotiating.
Malawi government is also looking for alternative sources of energy to compliment hydropower generation which is being frustrated by shortage of water due to climate change.
“We are in the final stages of getting a loan from the Chinese government through the Exim Bank. If all goes according to plan, construction of 300 MW coal-fired power plant should commerce before the end of this year” said Joseph Kalowekamo, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining.
