Mozambique, Zambia rescue Malawi

Mozambique, Zambia rescues Malawi

Luke

Following persistent blackouts that have become the order of the day in the country, Zambia and Mozambique have agreed to share electric power with Malawi in areas near borders.

Confirming the development, the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) said Malawi is to benefit from a power interconnection agreement with the two countries.

ESCOM’s director of transmission Jeford Banda said talks on the matter are at an advanced stage.

“Malawi has been assisting our friends from Mozambique as well as Zambia, so they are to help us as well with electricity so that we can assist people living near them,” said Banda.

He added that they are currently looking into legal issues that are to take less than six weeks.

Malawi which uses hydro based electricity has been hit hard in the energy sector following persistent dry spells that have seen water levels dropping in the Shire River and Lake Malawi.

The development has since forced ESCOM to reduce its generation to 162 megawatts from over 200 megawatts, leading to frequent blackouts in the country.