By Rahim Abdul
The Electricity Generation Company (Malawi) Limited (EGENCO) has announced that it will conduct a full-day planned maintenance shutdown at Nkula Power Station on Sunday, 16 November 2025. The company says the works, scheduled from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, are essential to safeguard equipment and ensure reliable electricity generation in the long term.
According to the public notice issued on 14 November 2025, the maintenance exercise will focus on welding and clamping trash screens that were temporarily secured with chains during a previous outage. EGENCO explains that these works could not be completed earlier due to high water levels flowing into the reservoir, which made it unsafe for welders to access the installation point.
To guarantee a safe working environment for the team of divers, welders, and engineers, EGENCO will temporarily draw down the water reservoir at the Nkula intake. This operation will completely halt electricity generation at both Nkula A and Nkula B for the duration of the maintenance.
The shutdown means that 135 megawatts of power normally supplied to the national grid from Nkula will not be available throughout the maintenance period. The company says this is a necessary sacrifice to allow full access to the submerged infrastructure and ensure proper, permanent fixing of the trash screens.
EGENCO adds that in order to minimize the inflow of water into the Nkula reservoir, there will be a reduced water discharge at the Kamuzu Barrage in Liwonde. This measure is expected to help maintain lower water levels and provide divers and welders with a safe space to complete the required tasks.
During the outage, several other hydropower stations namely Tedzani with a capacity of 90.1 MW, Kapichira producing 122.2 MW, and Wovwe generating 4.35 MW will remain operational.
Additionally, peaking power plants with a combined output of 16.8 MW will also be available to help support national supply.
However, EGENCO has cautioned that both Tedzani and Kapichira may not produce their maximum output due to reduced water flow that will accompany the reservoir drawdown at Nkula. This may result in slightly lower generation capacity from these plants during this period.
Despite the expected temporary reduction in overall output, the power utility has assured the public that it will optimize all available generation sources to maintain supply as consistently as possible. The company stresses that every effort will be made to manage the power system effectively throughout the maintenance window.
Management has further emphasized that the maintenance works are critical for the safety of technical staff and the smooth operation of the power station infrastructure. Welding and clamping the trash screens, they say, are important steps toward preventing future blockages and operational disruptions.
EGENCO has sincerely apologized for any inconvenience the planned shutdown may cause to the public and its stakeholders. The company reiterates that these essential works will ultimately strengthen the reliability of Malawi’s national grid and ensure more stable power generation for years to come.
