Energy
Deforestation choking power supply – EGENCO
April 01, 2019 / Wahard Betha
Electricity Generation Company of Malawi (Egenco) has described effects of deforestation as the major hindrance to uninterrupted generation of electricity in hydro-plants on the Shire River where Malawi generates 98% of its power.
Speaking at the Role of Trees, Forests and Resilience Symposium in Lilongwe, CEO for Egenco William Liabunya said effects of deforestation including soil erosion, aquatic weeds and trash disrupt the work of turbines in the reservoirs at the power stations.
“The suspended silt particles lower the volume of the reservoirs and reach the turbines to choke power production operations. They also block the cooling water system machines for the generation units,” Liabunya said.
Liabunya also said climate change related problems such as floods are a big threat to power production saying this year floods that hit the lower Shire affected many generating power stations resulting in power outages for almost a week in the month of February.
He said such occurrences are a stumbling block to the Government in the implementation of the Energy Policy which aims to improve efficiency, reliability and affordability of energy supply systems for socio-economic growth.
Liabunya, therefore, urged the Forestry Department to scale up implementation of the National Forest Policy which aims to control deforestation and promote sustainable management of forests in order to enhance socio-economic development.
He explained that if both the Energy Policy and National Forestry Policy are seriously implemented and harmonized with other policies namely Agriculture and Food Security Policy; National Land Policy; Land Resources Management Policy; Water Policy; Climate Change Policy and National Environmental Policy; deforestation can be prevented which would help EGENCO in sustaining uninterrupted power production.
In its reforestation drive, in January this year EGENCO launched a trees planting exercise at Chibwana Village Traditional Authority Sitola in Machinga district.
By the end of this rainy season, EGENCO plans to plant 25-thousand trees along Shire River and tributaries.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy Affairs says deforestation is a major concern in Malawi because the country lacks affordable and reliable alternatives to biomass, which is a major source of energy in the country catering for over 80% of the requirements.
Biomass energy is mainly used in water heating (cooking), tobacco curing, brick kilning, wastage in terms of charcoal residues, and in extreme cases of lighting.
In a presentation made at the Trees, Forests and Resilience Symposium in Lilongwe, Principal Energy Officer for the Department Cornwell Chisale observed that almost all wood fuel and charcoal used for domestic requirements in Malawi is from natural forests which take long to regenerate and also due to frequent harvesting, regeneration is actually impossible.
Chisale, however, said the Department is promoting alternative sources of energy including electricity (grid electricity and off-grid options including mini-grids), Gas (Liquid Petroleum Gas, natural gas and biogas), Bio-ethanol and Briquettes whose utilization will keep the country free from carbon emissions.
He explained that the drive to promote the alternative energy sources involves sound policy direction; lobbying for tax waivers for clean energy generation equipment, curriculum change to accommodate pro-clean energy subjects; introducing regulations that support clean energy use; and training communities, extension workers and institutions on alternative fuels.
He said the department is also conducting awareness campaigns on biomass utilization technologies through radio advertisements, cleaner cooking camps, open air functions, symposia and panel discussions.
The Department has, meanwhile, embarked on projects to promote alternative energy sources including Malawi Rural Electrification Program (MAREP) which is extending the national electricity grid to rural areas, National Cook Stove Initiative to disseminate 2-million cook stoves by 2020; and increasing clean and affordable decentralized energy services to selected vulnerable areas of Malawi project which is to promote clean energy mini-grids as a means of electrifying rural areas.
Malawi is, currently, importing 3MW of power from Mozambique through Mandimba to Mangochi and 20MW from Zambia through Chipata and Mchinji.
The country is in discussions with Tanzania to import gas through Karonga to support the development of a 100MW Gas Fired Power Plant either to be operated by EGENCO or an IPP.
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Rehabilitation:
The establishment of a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem, but not necessarily the one that existed before mining began. In many cases, complete restoration may be impossible, but successful remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation can result in the timely establishment of a functional ecosystem.
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Remediation:
The cleanup of the contaminated area to safe levels by removing or isolating contaminants. At mine sites, remediation often consists of isolating contaminated material in pre-existing tailings storage facilities, capping tailings and waste rock stockpiles with clean topsoil, and collecting and treating any contaminated mine water if necessary.
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