Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola, told the journalists after the launch in Blantyre on Wednesday that the technology has addressed human mistakes and responded to rapid changes in Malawi power sector especially with integration of renewable energy and other power related projects. 

Energy minister Ibrahim Matola said the system is a positive development.

“A journey that started with a thousand miles begun with a step, we were there, and today we are here launching the AGC system. This initiative will serve a lot of things in the energy sector,” said Matola.

ESCOM Board member, Dr Jacob Mazalale, hopes the technology will enhance the supply of reliable power to citizens in the country.

“Us as ESCOM, one of our objectives is to provide power that is reliable. Now reliability, continuous supply of electricity comes in if we continuously supply power to our customers,” explained Dr Mazalale.

On his part, EGENCO Acting Chief Executive Officer Engineer Dr Maxon Chitawo said they will continue to work together with ESCOM in order to provide quality and stable electricity to Malawians.

“This is very huge because previously, we relied on commanding by phone, can you switch off that generator? So that was taking too much time for us to do but with this AGC, we are happy because it is automatic,” said Engineer Dr Chitawo.

All along, generation control was being managed between National Control Centre, Generation Control Centre and local plant operators at generation sites through telephones.

Now, ESCOM and EGENCO have collaborated to set up a first AGC system in Malawi by connecting two 32.4 megawatts units at Kapichira and other two 31 megawatts units at Tedzani three.

The initiative comes when EGENCO and ESCOM have now ended their squabbles which experts say have been affecting the generation and supply of power.