Malawi, which has endured electricity shortages for a long time, will have surplus power from December, when the recently completed Kapichira 2 hydropower station comes on stream.
Malawi Electricity Supply Corporation (Escom) CEO John Kandulu says the new power station will add 64 MW to the grid and ensure that the country, which currently generates 287 MW, compared with average demand of 310 MW, has over 40 MW in surplus electricity.
“We anticipate increased demand on the system in terms of new constructions and indus- tries extending their capacities. “The additional power may be advantageous in the next one to two years and, after that, we may go back to the same situation of load-shedding, with demand outstripping supply,” says Kandulu.