Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola says there is an urgent need for the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) to rehabilitate its electricity distribution network to ensure efficient power supply to customers.

The minister said this on Tuesday after touring Escom power facilities and offices in the Central Region to appreciate the state of infrastructure and employees environment.

Matola: I am concerned

He said: “I am concerned to note that the warehouse in the Central Region has no stocks for rehabilitation works, especially now during the rainy season when rains are causing damage to the infrastructure.

“Your service is more-less like a hospital where you need to have well stocked equipment to respond to emerging disasters in your distribution network, but with the current situation, customers will keep worrying of delayed services because you are understocked.”

During a tour of the call centre, one call agent received over 900 calls from customers reporting faults in a day, which the minister described as an alarming situation which necessitated additional staff.

Escom Central Region manager McVittie Chiphwanya said they are grappling with faults caused by heavy rains because the distribution network requires maintenance.

He said: “The distribution network has remained without proper maintenance for quite some years which is why during this rainy season, we have numerous faults.

“This is a manifestation of a broken power distribution network which requires urgent and massive maintenance for us to be able to deliver on our mandate.”

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