LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)- The country’s utility body Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has withheld contract agreements from 19 Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

The corporation therefore indicates that is reviewing IPPs agreements for eligibility which signed with the disbanded Power Market Limited (PML).

Escom chief executive officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda was addressing the news conference in the capital Lilongwe on Saturday, June 24, 2023 alongside Principal Secretary for Energy Alfonso Chikuni.

Kumwenda disclosed that an assessment of the agreements has shown that PML did not conduct a thorough analysis of the deals before they were signed.

PML was handed the Single Buyer Licence; authority to strike power supply deals with investors.

He added that Escom wants to ensure that only legitimate independent power producers have contracts with ESCOM, hence the decision.

“Apparently, since the signing of the contracts they have never availed themselves. We don’t want to be caught in web of fraud.

“We are to restart the process all over again to get legitimate producers”, said Kumwenda.

PS Chikuni disclosed that PML liquidation process is over that all legitimate staffs have been absolved into Escom operation system that no-one loses job.