MEASURES TAKEN TO MITIGATE GENERATION PROBLEMS & CAPACITY CONTRAINTS

Implementation of Kapichira Hydroelectric Power Scheme – Phase II

The main objective of the revised generation expansion plan is the realisation of Kapichira Phase II earlier than 2010 in order to adequately meet the fast growing demand for power within Malawi, since recent power demand trends with the Southern Africa Power Pool, from which Malawi intends to tap power through the Mozambique-Malawi Interconnector, have shown that the regional interconnected system might start facing major power shortages by 2007, if the current stagnation in development of new power generating facilities within the region continues.

Phase II works will largely be electromechanical in nature, with minimal civil works, since most of the civil works (associated with the headrace tunnel, intake structure, powerhouse and the tailrace) for the remaining two units were already undertaken under Phase I. The Project cost is estimated at US$47.0 Million.

Repair, Rehabilitation, & Re-commissioning of Tedzani Falls I & II Power Station

In February 2006, ESCOM signed a contract with Hydel Engineering & Construction Limited (HECL) for the Repair, Rehabilitation, & Re-commissioning of Tedzani I&II Power Plant at a cost US$11.6 Million. Work which will take approximately 14 months to complete is currently progressing well. ESCOM also intends to incorporate modernization of some of the power plant & equipment into the project at an extra cost of US$5.2 Million.

Part of Tedzani Falls I&II Power Station Intake

Implementation of a Comprehensive Generation Power Plant Rehabilitation Project

A Project Proposal for generation rehabilitation was thus prepared, which mainly focused on the rehabilitation of electromechanical plant at Nkula and Tedzani Power Stations (plus existing thermal power plants in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Karonga) and relied solely on additional power from Kapichira Falls Phase I Hydroelectric Power Scheme and the proposed interconnection with Mozambique to cushion the impact that prolonged outage of the stations being rehabilitated might have on the system.
The Project cost is estimated at US$25.0 Million.

Standby Thermal Plants

An analysis of the existing ESCOM generation and transmission system shows that one of the best was to address the short and medium term threats to the system is through the provision of strategic standby power. In this regard, provision of standby power in the major cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe, these being the major load centres and strategic cities to the economy of the country, has been under serious consideration by ESCOM for the past 3 to 4 years as the best quick-fix solution available.

Mozambique-Malawi Interconnection – Up to 200MW Capacity Transmission Line

ESCOM is currently running a project to interconnect its power system with the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) through interconnection with Mozambique power system. The Mozambique-Malawi Interconnector will have a power transfer capacity of up to 300MW per circuit over a limited time.

The Line will bring into ESCOM power system improved reliability & security of power supply and also provide the much needed base load supply which will enable deferment of more costly internal generation projects. It will also facilitate rehabilitation of old/aged hydro power plants.

Weed Harvesting Project

In September 2004, ESCOM procured Mechanical Plant worth US$799,950.00 to combat weed/floating plants problem. The plant, comprising of an Aquatic Vegetation Cutter (AVC), Harvester, Shore Conveyer, Workboat, & Boom, operates upstream of Liwonde Barrage.

The AVC cuts/chops the weeds/floating plants into small pieces while the Harvester harvests and, using the Shore Conveyer, loads the chopped material onto trucks onshore. ESCOM staff were trained in operations & maintenance of the plant supplied by Aquarius Systems of USA.

Dredging of Hydropower Stations Water Reservoirs

Due to environmental degradation and bad farming practices in the catchment area of the Shire River and its tributaries, large quantities of silt are deposited in ESCOM’s Hydropower Stations’ Reservoirs thereby reducing their live storage capacity. Silt also accelerates wear of waterways and turbine parts thereby increasing the operational costs through frequent utilization of spare parts and power plant outages.
To reduce the impact of siltation of the Reservoirs, ESCOM has been carrying out dredging operations at Nkula Falls Power Stations Reservoir since 1998 when a Dredger was procured at a cost of MK35.0 Million. There are plans to procure Dredgers for Tedzani Falls as well as Kapichira Falls Power Stations in the very near future.