The Government, in partnership with the Kingdom of Belgium, invested €22 million in expanding renewable energy in rural areas of Mozambique through the Renewable Energy for Rural Development Project (REDR2+). The initiative has benefited thousands of citizens in the provinces of Nampula, Zambézia, and Manica, combining rural electrification with solar-powered irrigation systems to boost local development.
The project is now approaching its formal closure, scheduled for March 15, after nearly eight years of implementation since the agreement was signed in 2018 between the two countries. The last meeting of the Steering Committee took place in Maputo, serving to evaluate the results achieved throughout the program’s execution.
Funded with €22 million, REDR2+ was implemented by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) in partnership with the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME), the Energy Fund (FUNAE), and the National Irrigation Institute (INIR). The initiative aimed to expand access to clean and sustainable energy in rural areas and promote social and economic development in beneficiary communities.
Electrification Component
In the electrification component, the project enabled the construction of five photovoltaic mini-grids across two provinces. In Nampula, two mini-grids were installed in Muite and Milhana, in the district of Mecubúri, while in Zambézia, three infrastructures were built in Mugulama, Ilha de Idugo, and Nagonha, located in the districts of Ile, Mucubela, and Pebane.
In total, these infrastructures provided 3,667 electrical connections, benefiting 18,000 Mozambicans, many of whom gained access to electricity for the first time. Beyond improving living conditions, electrification enhanced community safety through public lighting and facilitated the operation of public services in the covered areas.
Irrigation Component
The project’s impact also extended to agriculture, with the installation of 508 solar-powered irrigation systems. Of these, 310 systems were installed in Manica and 198 in Zambézia, both in the central region of the country.
These infrastructures were designed to irrigate 426 hectares of farmland—312 hectares in Manica and 114 hectares in Zambézia. Additionally, 25 irrigation systems were installed in educational institutions to provide technical training and capacity building for students in agriculture and irrigation management.
During the Steering Committee meeting, MIREME’s Permanent Secretary, António Manda, highlighted the positive effects of the project-funded infrastructures. According to him, “Electrification and irrigation systems have created new economic opportunities at the local level, boosting small businesses and improving access to essential public services.”
Source: Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM)
