Escom to combat blackouts: Bring 46 megawatts on grid from fuel

Malawi sole power utility says it is bringing in an extra 46 megawatts of power from fuel generators onto the grid in a move to combat persistent power blackouts. [caption id="attachment_101838" align="alignright" width="347"] Kitty Chingota says Escom to boost power grid[/caption] [caption id="attachment_101839" align="alignright" width="600"] Chingota: Load sheding to be minimised[/caption] ESCOM public relations manager Kitty Chingota said the commissioning of the fuel generators start this March with 10 megawatts in central region. "By the end of the year, all generators will be up and running. The coming in of the 10 megawatts will minimise loadshedding," she said. She said by 2017, Blantyre will produce 20 megawatts, Lilongwe 20 megawatts and Mzuzu 6 megawatts. Escom is in major load hedding exercise in all major cities with electricity on for just three or two hours a day crippling the already crippled economy. The company blames low levels of water in shire river saying less than half of hydro generating machines are operating due to the low water levels.