By Linda Kwanjana
Minister of Energy and Mining Dr. Jean Mathanga, MP, yesterday spent over three hours at ESCOM offices in Blantyre engaging the utility’s Executive Management – reviewing and discussing detailed presentations on grid stability, current network performance and practical steps the corporation is implementing to minimize power disruptions and reduce loadshedding.
Joined by Secretary for Energy and Mining Mr Elvis Thodi, the Minister stressed that electricity is the ultimate catalyst for job creation, business growth and a better quality of life for all Malawians. Therefore, the Minister said government attaches the utmost importance to the performance, professionalism and responsiveness of ESCOM.
While acknowledging real hurdles that ESCOM is facing like aging infrastructure, network vandalism, Dr. Mathanga emphasized that these challenges shouldn’t define consumer experience.
“Every unit within ESCOM must demonstrate measurable productivity, faster response times, proper maintenance culture, prudent utilization of resources and stronger internal coordination. System losses, prolonged waiting time for new connections, unnecessary downtime, delayed procurement processes and avoidable operational inefficiencies must be decisively addressed,” Dr, Mathanga said.
ESCOM CEO Engineer William Kaipa, presenting the turnaround strategy, assured the Minister and government that the corporation is committed to stabilizing power supply, reduce loadshedding and improve fault restorations in the shortest period possible while at the same embarking on long-term solutions.
