Malawi Freedom Network 
By Malawi Freedom Network
August 25, 2026
Lilongwe, Malawi
Malawi’s electricity crisis is deepening, with the Electricity Generation Company (Malawi) Limited (EGENCO) confirming that several of its generating units are operating below capacity while one major unit at Nkula B remains completely out of service.
The development has raised fresh concerns over the reliability of electricity supply across the country, as households, businesses, hospitals and industries continue to contend with prolonged power interruptions.
EGENCO’s latest update, issued on August 22, provides a detailed picture of the problems affecting the country’s generation system and the measures being taken to restore capacity.
Nkula B Unit 6 out of service
One of the biggest immediate setbacks is the failure of Nkula B Unit 6, which has a capacity of 20 megawatts (MW).
According to EGENCO, the unit developed a technical fault on August 7, 2026, and is currently out of service.
The company says damaged generator bearing components and the shaft are being dismantled and will be transported to the original equipment manufacturer’s workshop in South Africa for repairs.
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EGENCO expects the unit to return to service in the first week of October 2026.
The loss of the 20MW unit comes at a particularly difficult time, with electricity demand continuing to exceed available generation capacity.
The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) recently reported that available generation had fallen to about 347MW against peak demand of 430MW, creating a 42MW deficit that can rise to 83MW during evening peak hours.
Nkula A also operating below capacity
EGENCO says Nkula A Power Station is currently producing 24MW, compared with its installed capacity of 35.1MW.
The reduction has been attributed to worn-out turbine shaft seals.
The company says the Government of Malawi, through the Reserve Bank, has allocated foreign exchange to facilitate the procurement of the required spare parts.
According to EGENCO, the spare parts had been fully paid for by July and were being shipped into Malawi, with the affected units expected to return to full generating capacity by the end of September.
This means some relief could come in September if the repairs and delivery of the equipment proceed according to schedule.
Tedzani and Kapichira remain affected
The electricity generation problems extend beyond Nkula.
EGENCO says Tedzani Units 5 and 6 are operating at a combined reduced capacity of just 5MW because of debris and stones accumulating at the intake area following the impact of Cyclone Ana in 2022.
A contractor has been engaged to remove the material, with the works expected to be completed by December 2026.
At Kapichira Power Station, Unit 3 is also operating below its installed capacity following the failure of its original generator transformer in May 2025.
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EGENCO says it is acquiring a replacement transformer, but the expected delivery date is October 2027, with full restoration of the unit targeted for December 2027.
The company explained that generator transformers are manufactured on a make-to-order basis and can take more than 12 months to produce.
Foreign exchange shortages worsening the problem
EGENCO has linked many of the generation problems to delays in procuring critical spare parts over the past two to three years.
The company says foreign exchange constraints contributed significantly to those delays.
The issue highlights one of the deeper structural problems facing Malawi’s electricity sector: maintaining ageing generation infrastructure requires access to foreign currency for specialised equipment and components that are not manufactured locally.
EGENCO says the Government has allocated approximately US$8.1 million for critical spare parts, enabling the company to pay for some of the most urgent components.
Why Malawians should expect continued pressure
The latest developments mean the electricity problem is not simply a matter of ESCOM distributing insufficient power.
At the generation level, EGENCO is dealing with damaged equipment, ageing machinery, reduced output from several plants, procurement delays and the long lead times required to obtain specialised equipment.
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ESCOM has consequently warned that the power supply situation is likely to remain unstable until key generation units are restored.
The situation demonstrates the growing gap between electricity demand and Malawi’s ability to generate enough power consistently.
A recent assessment reported peak demand of more than 450MW, while available EGENCO generation was significantly lower, illustrating the structural mismatch between demand and supply.
EGENCO promises new generation projects
While repairing existing plants, EGENCO says it is also pursuing additional generation projects.
Among the projects identified by the company are:
- 300MW Kam’mwamba Coal-Fired Power Project
- 4.5MW Wovwe II Hydropower Project
- 40MW second phase of the Salima Solar Power Plant
- 358MW Mpatamanga Hydropower Project
- 80MW Chasombo and Chizuma Hydropower Projects
The projects are intended to increase Malawi’s generation capacity and reduce the country’s dependence on a limited number of ageing generation assets.
EGENCO recently commissioned the first 10MW phase of the Salima Solar Power Plant, another step towards diversifying Malawi’s electricity generation mix.
The bigger question: when will Malawi have reliable electricity?
For ordinary Malawians, the central issue is no longer simply how many megawatts the country has installed on paper.
The critical question is how much electricity can actually be generated and supplied reliably when households and businesses need it.
EGENCO’s latest statement suggests that some immediate problems could improve between September and December this year, particularly if Nkula A repairs are completed and Nkula B Unit 6 returns as scheduled.
However, the Kapichira Unit 3 problem demonstrates that some generation constraints could remain well into 2027.
The continuing crisis also places pressure on Malawi’s economic ambitions. Businesses require reliable electricity to operate machinery, preserve products, provide services and maintain production. Frequent outages can increase operating costs, disrupt working hours and force businesses to rely on alternative power sources.
For households, prolonged blackouts affect everything from studying and communication to refrigeration, water supply and small businesses.
EGENCO asks for public patience
EGENCO says it recognises the challenges affecting power generation and is working to restore the affected machines.
The company says it remains committed to strengthening the reliability of Malawi’s electricity supply while expanding generation capacity.
The immediate focus, however, remains restoring damaged equipment and bringing lost megawatts back onto the national grid.
Until that happens, Malawians are likely to continue experiencing an unstable electricity supply.
The latest developments therefore leave Malawi facing a difficult short-term reality: repair the existing generation fleet while simultaneously investing in enough new generation to meet rapidly growing demand.
For millions of electricity consumers, the success or failure of those interventions will be measured not in megawatts or project announcements, but in one simple question — when will the lights stay on?
