Mozambique plans to move forward with solar power plants in at least five parts of the country by 2030, with an estimated capacity of 1,000 MegaWatts (MW) of electricity production, promising a “true solar revolution”.
“Accelerating these types of projects to a larger scale is the simplest way to solve Mozambique’s strategic dilemma after 2030: having to choose between green energy for export or supplying energy to industrial consumers,” says the Energy Transition Strategy (ETS), which Lusa had access to on Thursday.
The latest official figures available show that in 2022, Mozambique had 125 MW of projects for solar power stations, with 80 MW already connected to the grid. Currently, more than 70% of the electricity consumed in the country is guaranteed through hydroelectricity, a trend that the government acknowledges will continue in the coming decades, even with the implementation of the ETS.
This new strategy, which foresees investments of around $80 billion (€73 billion) by 2050, provides in one of its plans that Mozambique will develop, in the first phase of its implementation, by 2030, “at least” 1,000 MW of new solar photovoltaic capacity in Dondo, Lichinga, Manje, Cuamba, Zitundo and other locations “to be identified”, and 200 to 500 MW of new onshore wind power capacity, namely in Inhambane, Lagoa Pathi.
“Large industrial investors who need large amounts of green electricity should be encouraged, through a favourable business and regulatory environment, to develop large-scale solar and wind energy projects,” the document adds.
By 2050, the aim is to have at least 7.5 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity installed in Mozambique and up to 2.5 GW of wind power capacity.
“To ensure price optimisation and accelerate the expansion of solar and wind capacity, the government should build on the Renewable Energy Auction Programme in Mozambique,” the principles of which introduced “competition in the awarding of renewable energy contracts”.
“The rapid growth of solar expansion in South Africa following the introduction of auctions is a regional example to follow,” highlights the ETS, which also emphasises “long-term” initiatives: “Continue to gradually develop the latest solar and wind generation potential to meet the growing demand for electricity. A true ‘solar revolution’ will be needed to meet Mozambique’s growing consumption in a clean way.
Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi said at the climate summit last December that the ETS would put the country at the “forefront of climate innovation”.
“This initiative not only places Mozambique at the forefront of climate innovation but also positions it as an attractive, sustainable investment destination,” said the head of state after speaking on 2 December at one of the panels at the UN climate summit (COP28), which is taking place in Dubai.
On 27 November, Mozambique’s Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy announced investments of 80 billion dollars (73 billion euros) in the Energy Transition Strategy to be implemented by 2050.
In the 2024 to 2030 period, the Mozambican government plans to add 3.5 GigaWatts (GW) of new hydroelectric capacity by modernising existing plants and completing the Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric project.
It will also “expand and modernise the national grid” to “absorb the increase in renewable generation”, as well as “boost solar and wind energy” through a renewable energy auction programme.
It will also advance the construction of “green industrial parks and corridors enabled by reliable and affordable clean energy”.
