Generation is responsible for running all power generating stations most of which are located along the shire river with a small hydro power station at Wovwe in Karonga. ESCOM also operates thermal power plants in some parts of the country as stand-by for the interconnected system.

This mode of power generation uses water which in turn drives the turbines to generate electrical energy. It is one of environmental friendly mode of generating power. The whole system comprises of a reservoir, spillway, intake coarse and fine screens, power intake mouth, tunnels, surge chamber, penstocks, spiral case, draft tube and tail race.

Typical Layout: Nkula Falls A Power Station's Surge Cchamber, Penstock, & Power

Existing ESCOM Limited Generation System

Nearly 95% of Malawi’s electricity supply is provided by hydropower from a cascaded group of interconnected hydroelectric power plants located on the middle part of Shire River and a mini hydro on the Wovwe River, which constitute the interconnected system. Total installed capacity of these hydropower plants is 282.5MW. The hydroelectric schemes on the Shire River are all of run-of the river type. Some thermal power plants serve as stand-by for the interconnected system: a 15 MW Gas Turbine Plant in Blantyre and a 1.1 MW Diesel Power Plant in Mzuzu. Likoma District has two separate isolated systems with a total installed thermal power plants capacity of 1.050MW.
Therefore, the total present installed capacity for the ESCOM system, inclusive of standby thermal plants, is about 299.65 MW.

The hydropower plants on the Shire River, located downstream of Liwonde Barrage, have operated without major problems until in recent years when floating aquatic weeds/plants and debris being transported in the river have caused severe operational problems and damage to intake structures. Siltation of power plants reservoirs has also contributed immensely to the operational problems.

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