Energy Sector Dilemma in Malawi

Although the energy sector is key to progressive development, it seems the countries policy makers and stakeholders mandated to govern these institutions have deliberately chosen to put a blind eye to the woes facing the sector in Malawi. For over 52 years now, these decision makers have had no idea on how to make electricity generation a success story and thus satisfy the needs of the ordinary Malawian and newly introduced industries. Failure to come up with contingency future plans, the general populace has been left to suffer from unbearable blackouts which further affect the progress of their small businesses and worse enough production of large industries in the long run.

With the population of over 13 million, it leaves one to wonder if there is in any other effort the government is putting into developing and coming up with any new ideas of how we should end these recurring problem. The current hydroelectric power house to my understanding is outdated but it’s somehow funny to learn that, the whole bunch of engineers at ESCOM and now EGENCO are wasting their skills and expertise to maintain machines too old to handle the overwhelming population. Another thing that leaves a lot of questions is; why the same qualified engineers have unrealistically advised the current administration of buying Diesel generators as a resolution to the current problem.

It does not take an engineer to deduce the lifespan of Engines and actually know the dangers that these engines have on the strides to conserving the environment. Economical wise, these generators are expensive to run given that they will need large quantities of fuel to generate electricity and incur unbearable maintenance costs which will ideally lead to an inflation of prices on every unit of electricity. This to the customer and mainly the tax payer is bad news. To my point of view, short term and costly solutions as these are unwelcome, for they will put pressure on an already deprived economy.

Now that the rains have started, there is at least hope for electricity in about 5 months, but it doesn’t mean there should be reluctance in exploring new arenas to the generation of energy. Let this current situation be an SOS to venturing into long-term programs that will end this problem. Dr Kamuzu Banda started the journey and we are left to continue for the Promised Land. It is important to finally note that if we have the “Will” as Citizens and most specifically those in the Policy making system, the country will reach greater heights of development.