Mozambique’s Interministerial Working Group for Energy Transition, led by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Carlos Zacarias, convened its inaugural meeting to start the development of a National Energy Transition Strategy and Plan.
This strategic plan will be presented at the upcoming 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP28), scheduled for Dubai from 30 November to 12 December. The creation of the Energy Transition Working Group follows Mozambique’s active involvement in last year’s COP27 climate conference, where it positioned itself as a regional hub for clean energy and green industrialisation.
Around the world, the momentum behind the transition to green energy continues to gather pace and several African countries have already started formulating their own energy transition strategies and plans. Recently, Senegal became the second African nation to secure a substantial $2.7 billion climate finance package to support and accelerate its energy transition strategy and plan. This announcement followed a similar package worth $8.5 billion for South Africa in 2021.
Mozambique stands out for its vast clean energy resources, in particular hydropower potential. Projects such as the planned Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric project are expected to provide reliable and adaptable power, driving green industrialisation and providing clean electricity to Mozambique and the wider region. In addition, Mozambique’s Ministry of Transport and Communications has begun actively exploring opportunities to electrify urban transport systems and promote a greener transport sector by capitalising on the country’s clean electricity resources.
The Interministerial Working Group for Energy Transition will hold regular meetings in the coming weeks and months. An international team of consultants has been engaged to assist in the development of the Energy Transition Strategy and Roadmap, coordinated with the support of the Tony Blair Institute, with assistance from the UK, Belgium, Norway and Germany.
