diff --git a/pyutilib/component/loader/plugin_importLoader.py b/pyutilib/component/loader/plugin_importLoader.py
index a0819f48..66b2e4c9 100644
--- a/pyutilib/component/loader/plugin_importLoader.py
+++ b/pyutilib/component/loader/plugin_importLoader.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
 __all__ = ['ImportLoader']
 
 from glob import glob
-import imp
+import importlib.util
+import importlib.machinery
 import re
 import os
 import sys
@@ -22,6 +23,15 @@
 from pyutilib.component.config import ManagedSingletonPlugin
 from pyutilib.component.core import implements, ExtensionPoint, IIgnorePluginWhenLoading, IPluginLoader, Plugin
 
+def load_source(modname, filename):
+    loader = importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader(modname, filename)
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(modname, filename, loader=loader)
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    # The module is always executed and not cached in sys.modules.
+    # Uncomment the following line to cache the module.
+    # sys.modules[module.__name__] = module
+    loader.exec_module(module)
+    return module
 
 class ImportLoader(ManagedSingletonPlugin):
     """Loader that looks for Python source files in the plugins directories,
@@ -53,7 +63,7 @@ def load(self, env, search_path, disable_re, name_re):
                 if plugin_name not in sys.modules and name_re.match(
                         plugin_name):
                     try:
-                        module = imp.load_source(plugin_name, plugin_file)
+                        module = load_source(plugin_name, plugin_file)
                         if generate_debug_messages:
                             env.log.debug('Loading file plugin %s from %s' % \
                                   (plugin_name, plugin_file))
diff --git a/pyutilib/misc/import_file.py b/pyutilib/misc/import_file.py
index cd5c80ab..052b8735 100644
--- a/pyutilib/misc/import_file.py
+++ b/pyutilib/misc/import_file.py
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 #  _________________________________________________________________________
 
 import os
-import imp
+import importlib
+import importlib.machinery
 import sys
 
 import pyutilib.common
@@ -24,6 +25,17 @@
         runpy_available = False
 
 
+def load_source(modname, filename):
+    loader = importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader(modname, filename)
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(modname, filename, loader=loader)
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    # The module is always executed and not cached in sys.modules.
+    # Uncomment the following line to cache the module.
+    # sys.modules[module.__name__] = module
+    loader.exec_module(module)
+    return module
+
+
 def import_file(filename, context=None, name=None, clear_cache=False):
     """
     Import a Python file as a module
@@ -125,15 +137,15 @@ def import_file(filename, context=None, name=None, clear_cache=False):
         else:
             if dirname is not None:
                 # find_module will return the .py file (never .pyc)
-                fp, pathname, description = imp.find_module(modulename,
-                                                            [dirname])
+                fp, pathname, description = importlib.find_loader(modulename,
+                                                            str(dirname))
                 fp.close()
             else:
                 try:
                     sys.path.insert(0, implied_dirname)
                     # find_module will return the .py file
                     # (never .pyc)
-                    fp, pathname, description = imp.find_module(modulename)
+                    fp, pathname, description = importlib.find_loader(modulename)
                     fp.close()
                 except ImportError:
                     raise
@@ -142,7 +154,7 @@ def import_file(filename, context=None, name=None, clear_cache=False):
         try:
             # Note: we are always handing load_source a .py file, but
             #       it will use the .pyc or .pyo file if it exists
-            module = imp.load_source(name, pathname)
+            module = load_source(name, pathname)
         except:
             et, e, tb = sys.exc_info()
             import traceback