Minister of Energy Dr. Jean Mathanga has launched the ESCOM Fault Clearance Facility aimed at improving electricity fault response and reducing delays in restoring power across the country.
The facility was officially launched on Friday, 6 November 2026, at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
The initiative introduces a fleet of motorcycles for ESCOM technicians, alongside the ESCOM App and a fault management system, to strengthen the electricity distributor’s capacity to respond to reported faults.
Speaking during the launch, Dr. Mathanga said Malawi’s rapidly growing cities and towns were presenting new challenges to electricity service delivery, particularly as settlements expand into areas that are difficult for technicians to access.
She said the facility would improve technicians’ mobility, especially as the country approaches the rainy season amid anticipated El Niño conditions.
“The motorcycles are therefore more than a means of transport; they are an investment in operational efficiency, improved customer service and the ability of ESCOM to respond to the changing needs of a growing population,” said Dr. Mathanga.
She explained that the motorcycles would enable technicians to navigate congested urban areas and reach locations where vehicles may struggle to operate, thereby reducing response times and supporting faster restoration of electricity supply.
The Minister said the initiative was part of broader government efforts to improve electricity availability and reliability, adding that progress had been made in replacing faulty transformers and electricity meters, which have contributed to frequent faults and prolonged power outages.
Dr. Mathanga further disclosed that the Mozambique-Malawi Power Interconnector is expected to be inaugurated in mid-December 2026, allowing Malawi to initially import 50 megawatts of electricity.
She said ongoing repairs and rehabilitation works at Nkula and Tedzani power stations were also expected to restore additional electricity generation capacity to the national grid.
“We are therefore optimistic that the combined impact of these interventions will significantly improve electricity supply reliability and availability before the end of December 2026,” she said.
However, Dr. Mathanga challenged ESCOM management to introduce clear performance measures to assess the effectiveness of the new facility, including monitoring fault response and restoration times, compliance with the Customer Service Charter and customer satisfaction.
“The success of this initiative must be measured by the results it delivers to customers,” she said.
She also urged ESCOM to improve communication with customers during power outages and called on security agencies to help ensure the safety of technicians while carrying out their duties on the roads.
The Minister further appealed to ESCOM technicians to use and maintain the motorcycles responsibly to ensure the sustainability of the initiative.
“Behind every reported fault is a household, business, school, hospital or other institution waiting for electricity to be restored,” said Dr. Mathanga.
She commended ESCOM management and technical teams for their efforts in advancing the initiative.
