EGENCO targets month-end to restore 31MW

The Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) is expecting to return 31 megawatts to the national grid by the end of December.

This follows significant progress in maintenance works on Tedzani III Unit 5, which has been offline for a year.

Officials from the power utility made the assurance after Energy Minister Jean Mathanga toured the Tedzani Power Station on Sunday.

EGENCO Chief Executive Officer William Liabunya said the team moved quickly once spare parts arrived in November, supported by an expert engineer.

“We lost Tedzani III, machine number 5, on 4th December 2023. But on 20th November this year, we began maintenance because the spare parts had arrived a week earlier. When the expert arrived, we went straight into the works, and we expect that by the end of this month, the 31 megawatts will be back on the grid,” Liabunya said.

During the tour, Liabunya noted that ageing infrastructure remains a major challenge, adding that sourcing parts for outdated machinery continues to slow down repair efforts.

“The challenge with old plants is that it’s difficult to get spare parts because they’re obsolete. We heavily rely on manufacturers to come in and repair them for us, and that process takes time,” he said.

Liabunya, however, assured Malawians that rehabilitation and modernisation plans are underway, supported by confirmed financing — including efforts to expand solar generation.

EGENCO officials also highlighted that the Nanjoka Solar Power Plant in Salima remains on course despite foreign exchange shortages affecting procurement.

Mathanga, who inspected the Tedzani works, said she is impressed with the pace of repairs.

“I came here to check the progress, and indeed there are just a few areas left to finalise. By the end of this month, we should have the machine up and running and get the 31 megawatts back onto the grid,” she said.

The minister acknowledged EGENCO’s financial pressures, particularly outstanding payments from ESCOM.

“ESCOM is also our baby. I’ll work with them to ensure the challenges they are facing are addressed so they are able to pay for what they get from EGENCO. Government is prioritising foreign exchange allocation for the energy sector,” Mathanga added.

She also urged EGENCO staff to uphold professionalism and commitment to public service.

EGENCO’s power restoration efforts continue to focus on rehabilitating major hydropower stations — including Kapichira, which was damaged during Cyclone Ana, as well as Nkula and Tedzani — to improve reliability and efficiency.

The rehabilitation programme is running alongside new generation projects, such as the Salima Solar initiative and the planned Mpatamanga Hydropower Plant.

These combined investments, supported by financiers including the World Bank and the African Development Bank, aim to strengthen Malawi’s overall energy supply..