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African state suffers blackouts as drought exposes 98 percent reliance on hydro power

Shire river, which generates almost all of the country’s power, has fallen to critical levels, leaving major cities struggling.

By Editorial Team December 10, 20170

Water levels in Malawi’s main hydroelectric power plant have shrunk to critically low levels due to a severe drought, plunging large sections of the country into darkness, including the capital Lilongwe.

Water from the Shire river normally generates 300MW of electricity, which is 98% of the country’s electricity supply, but the African country has been hit by intermittent outages since last year.

However, only 8% of Malawi’s population has access to electricity, according to the World Bank.

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