Belgium announced this Monday, November 7, a new cooperation programme with Mozambique worth 25 million euros (equivalent to 1.5 billion meticais), for the development of renewable energy and waste management.
“Our country will help Mozambique so that it can invest in green energy instead of fossil fuels,” said Belgium’s Development Minister, Frank Vandenbroucke, on the occasion of COP27, the international climate summit being held in Egypt.
The support for the period 2023-2028 is allocated taking into account that Mozambique is indicated as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and is at the same time one of the least developed countries in the world.
Despite the riches of the subsoil, the initiative provides for studies to produce green hydrogen in Mozambique, and the Belgian Development Agency will feed solar panels into remote areas without a grid connection.
According to a statement cited by Lusa, it is also planning to supply drinking water and irrigation solutions based on solar energy.
Belgium will also support the implementation of a national programme for sustainable waste management, which includes building recycling facilities in Nacala and Nampula, with additional support from a multi-donor fund.
Of the 25 million euros announced, part of the amount will go to the loss and damage component to make public infrastructure more resilient to storms and floods.
Belgium has also announced an additional contribution of one million euros (62.9 million meticais) for new drinking water facilities in Mozambique.