The Ministry of Energy and main players in the energy sector have bemoaned the continued plunder of equipment and natural resources saying it is heavily crippling service delivery in the sector.

The remarks were made on Monday during orientation workshop held in Blantyre where the ministry and the state owned parastatals in the energy sector, presented to journalists the current status of the energy sector in the country and also equip them with knowledge to avoid misrepresentation on issues regarding the sector.

The companies who made their presentations include Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO), National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) and Power Market Limited (PML).

ESCOM Public Relations Officer, Peter Kanjere, said the company is losing more than K2 billion annually due to vandalism of its transformers.

He said about five transformers are vandalised every month a development which has also led to the company’s failure to connect 20 000 households who are in need of electricity.

“Vandalism of such equipment does not only leave houses without electricity but also it puts lives at risk as hospitals are also affected,” said Kanjere.

EGENCO Public Relations Officer, Moses Gwaza, said in addition to damages at it’s Kapichira power plant which lost 129.6 MW, as a result of cyclone ANA and Gombe, environmental degradation is also fuelling trashed and siltation that are negatively affect it’s operations.

On the other hand, Gwaza has also expressed worry with the delays by authorities in different departments to approve projects saying it is another set back.

On this, he mentioned departments such as the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) and Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA).

However he said EGENCO is expected to bring back 25 MW by the end of August this year.