K10 billion used on Kapichira fixing
Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) has spent about K10 billion on putting up a cofferdam, and resumed electricity generation at its Kapichira hydro-power station in Chikwawa District.
The amount is less than the K15 billion initial estimates.
It is also lower than the $60 million emergency power restoration project facility from the World Bank.
Egenco Chief Executive Officer William Liabunya said the firm has so far invested about K10 billion in the project but said there could be some other outstanding payments.
“We are still building the cofferdam and on the dyke to raise it to 147 metres above sea level. When we get to that point, we believe we should be able to add an extra unit and you will see thereafter what happens with the fourth unit.
“In November, the government gave us the go ahead to start our earlier proposal. We started on December 8; we had to be working day and night. We gave ourselves a March deadline but were affected by Cyclone Freddy and lost some seven days which pushed us to April 5,” Liabunya said.
Meanwhile, the power plant is running two machines which are contributing 64.8 megawatts (mw) to the national grid.
Egenco spokesperson Moses Gwaza said they expect to put a third machine on line within this week to bring the tally to 97.2mw.
Flash floods caused by Cyclone Ana in early 2022 caused extensive damage to Kapichira dam.
