ESCOM’s Tedzani power plant rehabilitation to take tong

Rehabilitation works at Tedzani one and 2 power plants in Blantyre are expected to take longer than scheduled with the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi attributing the delay to logistical problems.

“The project was expected to end by June or July this year, but we have delay due to some challenges,” said Public Relations Manager for ESCOM Mrs. Kitty Chingota.

Mrs. Chingota was however non-committal on how long the Malawi government funded project will take.

“We may not be able to say, as at now, when they project is expected to end, because of the logistical delays,” she said

This, according to Chingota, means that load-shedding programs which directly result in frequent power black outs will have to continue.

“What it means is that load-shedding will never end in Malawi until there is an improvement in the generation capacity. Even if we finish this project, load-shedding will always continue, until such a time when supply of electricity will surpass demand,” confessed Chingota.

Rehabilitation works on Tedzani one and 2 power generation plants began late last year, with ESCOM hoping to increase the capacity of power it generates.

According to ESCOM officials, rehabilitating the two plants would increase generation capacity by at least 60 megawatts.