The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has said it will closely follow how the feasibility study on the Salima-Lilongwe Water Project will be conducted.
The study for the K400 billion project, which aims to tap water from Lake Malawi for use in Lilongwe, is yet to be undertaken, but Khato Civils already entered into a contract with Lilongwe Water Board (LWB).
Escom Chief Executive Officer Evelyn Mwapasa Tuesday said the company is alert to what will come out of the study in relation to the impact it might have on the generation of power.
“Anything happening in the lake is a matter of interest to us. In this project we are a stakeholder interested to contribute and see how the feasibility study comes out,” she said.
Mwapasa made the sentiments when the board and the management of the power supply company appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory, Parastatals and State Enterprises.
She further said Escom will make sure it is one of the stakeholders to be consulted and have an input before the project rolls out.
“We will make sure we are heard and the analysis includes the impact of producing power on the Shire River. We hope the study will come up with solutions to water problems in Lilongwe as well as sustainability of the hydropower stations on the Shire River,” she said
The multi-billion kwacha project has sparked debate as some quarters have faulted LWB for entering into a contract without conducting a feasibility study as well as an environmental and social impact assessment.
Another concern raised on the project has been the source of power for lifting water from the lake to Lilongwe, given that the project is estimated to need between 68 and 128MW while Escom struggles to generate 300MW.
But LWB Chief Executive Officer Alfonso Chikuni earlier said the preliminary assessment found that there is no harm in tapping water from the lake since the biggest threat to the lake is evaporation.
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