The Natural Water Resources Authority (NWRA) has transferred the management of Kamuzu Barrage in Liwonde to the Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) as part of what it calls efforts to enhance the barrage’s efficiency.
NWRA board chairperson James Mambulu said the barrage had previously been managed by the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) and the Ministry and Water and Sanitation.
“Now that we have a dedicated authority regulating water resources and a full Ministry of Water and Sanitation, we have decided to enter into an agreement with Egenco to manage the barrage for an initial period of two years, after which management may be transferred back to us,” he said.
Mambulu added that Egenco has already been involved with the barrage by managing weeds that have long hindered electricity generation downstream.
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He said therefore their new role will not disrupt the barrage’s operations.
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Under the agreement, according Mambulu, NWRA has begun recruiting key personnel to work on the barrage in collaboration with Egenco officials, with a focus on skill-sharing.
“We aim to ensure that the country’s water resources are protected and used efficiently, as they are crucial for Malawi’s economic development,” he added.
Egenco acting Chief Executive Officer Maxon Chitawo said the new agreement grants the company both authority and responsibility to manage the water flow through the barrage prudently.
Chitawo emphasised the need for significant water resources for electricity generation and the importance of ensuring that available water is used effectively.
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“This new mandate is crucial as it places the responsibility for managing the barrage under our supervision with NWRA oversight. As Egenco, we will strive to ensure that water resources benefit everyone at various levels,” he said.
In recent times, NWRA has faced criticism regarding the flooding on the shores of Lake Malawi and areas along the Shire River, which has been attributed to the authority’s reluctance to fully open the barrage.
However, NWRA maintained that the barrage operates according to a specific model that dictates when the gates can be opened.
The authority also warned that fully opening the gates all at once would be disastrous for downstream areas, as it would result in an excessive flow of water leaving the lake through the upper stretch of the Shire River.
