Despite the huge black-outs in the country, the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) is likely to hike electricity tariffs as they expert coming of Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

The development comes after Malawi government has signed over 36 memorandums of understandings with IPPs.

According to information made available to Face of Malawi, the ministry of natural resources, energy and mining has already welcomed five private producers have signed term sheets, a precursor to signing power purchase agreements.

Committing on the matter, ESCOM chief executive officer John Kandulu said Malawians are to be paying more for electricity due to high charges from the IPPs in the country.

“Currently ESCOM charges 8 cents per kilowatt and that’s less however when IPPs are to come we are to spend 12 cents to 19 cents per kilowatt and that’s too bad,” said Kandulu.

Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director John Kapito has asked transparency in negotiating such deals, saying Malawi may end up signing deals that would make many poor malawians suffer.

However, Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has disclosed that the energy regulator has developed monitoring mechanisms to ensure that.