EGENCO LAUNCHES 2021 TREE PLANTING SEASON – PLANTS 3,000 TREES

The Electricity Generation Company (Malawi) Limited (EGENCO) kick started its 2021 tree-planting season by planting 3,000 trees on the banks of Lirangwe River at Chilipa Village, T/A Chigalu, in Blantyre District.

Speaking during the launch ceremony, EGENCO Chief Executive Officer, William Liabunya said trees prevent land degradation, which is very important for power generation.

“Trees hold the soil and prevent it from eroding into the river, which in turn prevents siltation of the dams at our power stations.” said Liabunya., He further lamented that siltation has been a major challenge for the company.

“A lot of silt that goes into the river ends up in our dams, causing us to lose the capacity of these dams. Some of the silt even enters the machines, affecting operations of the power plants and reducing power generation.”

In order to reclaim the lost capacity of the dams that have been filled with silt, Liabunya said EGENCO has spent over K10 billion in dredging projects at its power stations to keep the dams from being buried with silt.

Guest of honor at the ceremony, Minister of Energy, Honorable Newton Kambala challenged EGENCO and other stakeholders to do more in planting trees to conserve the environment.

“There is need to plant more trees and ensure that they are protected from deforestation.” Said Kambala.

EGENCO also donated equipment such as hoes, wheelbarrows and watering canes to be used by the village’s forestry committee in managing the trees.

In a similar exercise last year, EGENCO planted 8000 trees along the Shire River catchment area and at its Power Stations.

Apart from yearly tree planting exercises, EGENCO also provides 200 hundred-million-kwacha worth of funding to SHIRE BEST, an organization that implements high impact programmes to address environmental degradation and restore ecosystem services within the Shire River basin.