The Mozambican Renewable Energy Association (AMER) estimated today that the country will need around 80 billion dollars (70.4 billion euros) for the energy transition strategy to renewable sources by 2050.
“For the entire strategy, by 2050 (…) we’re talking about 80 billion dollars that will be needed. It’s a big effort, no doubt about it, but the funding will need to be increased every year,” Ricardo Pereira, president of AMER, an organization that promotes the use of clean energy in the country, told Lusa today.
According to the representative, the amount will be used for infrastructure construction projects and grid expansion, with more than 320 million dollars (281.7 million euros) currently available for the country’s public grid.
“EDM [Electricity of Mozambique, a public company] has already mobilized at least 323 million dollars (284.4 million euros) for infrastructure expansion. This is what is available at the moment, although an additional 597 million dollars (525.4 million euros) is expected to be mobilized for future projects,” he explained.
Pereira also said that around 2.7 billion dollars (2.3 billion euros) are available for off-grid energy for this energy transition.
“This comes through direct funding, technical assistance, among others. When we talk about the energy transition strategy, although funding is already available, much more is always needed,” he reiterated.
Despite the funding challenge, the representative says that the renewable energy sector in the country is “getting better and better”, with “very optimistic” projections.
“We have enough potential and resources at the solar, wind and hydro level to not only meet our needs as an entire nation, but also the cities of some of our neighboring countries,” he added.
Electricity production through solar parks in Mozambique grew by 18.6% in 2024, but still guarantees less than 1% of the total, according to official figures.
According to the budget execution report with data from January to December 2024, electricity production in the country’s five large solar parks, and by other smaller plants, exceeded 101,247 MegaWatt-hours (MWh) in this period, compared to 85,343 MWh in the whole of 2023.
Last year, the government had set a target of producing 138,808 MWh through the country’s already operational solar parks, a goal that was not achieved.
Despite the growth in production, solar parks only accounted for 0.5% of Mozambique’s total production in 12 months, led in 2024 by hydroelectric plants, with 83.8%, and essentially the Cahora-Bassa Hydroelectric Plant (81.7% of total electricity production until December).
Lusa
