Deforestation in Malawi is taking its toll on the economy. The country is said to be loosing MK36 billion (US$338 million) a year as a result of power cuts, which is blamed on environmental degradation.
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi Limited (ESCOM) says the country is losing MK1 million a day due to power interruptions which is still being experienced through out Malawi.
According to environmental experts, the problem of power cuts are caused by silt, which makes it impossible for the turbines at the main power station located in Malawi’s largest river, the Shire River, to generate power. It is because of deforestation along the Shire River and other rivers that run into the Shire, debris are carried away when the rivers are flooded and these cause problems at Nkula Hydro-electric power station and other station and other in the Shire River.
Hydro-electric power is Malawi’s largest source of the power system, with a total capacity of 355.3 MW.
Malawi is leading the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region in terms of deforestation with a rate of 2.8 percent per year, which is about 125.043 ha per year.
Robert Kafakoma, a member of the Malawi forest Governance Learning Group (FGLG) said the demand for charcoal in towns and cities is a main cause of deforestation in the country. “People are of the opinion that by using charcoal and fire wood, as an alternative they will save a lot of money.”
While various short and long term efforts are carried out, ESCOM is calling upon all stakeholders to take a leading role in long term reafforestation projects as well as enforcing the 100Metres buffer zone and discouraging of cultivating along the river banks.
In July 2005 ESCOM procured equipment at a cost of over MK100Million in order to deal with the weed problem in the Shire River, especially at the Liwonde barrage and up stream. “The equipment has proved successful in that during the just ended rainy season there were few power interruptions as was the case in previous years. We are expecting the same situation during this year’s rainy season and in the years to come,” says Kitty Chimseu, Public Relations Manager for ESCOM.