Electricity production in Mozambique increased by 9% in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 4,098 GWh by March, driven by the recovery of water storage levels in the country’s main dams, particularly the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Plant (HCB).
Quarterly sector execution data indicates that production in the first three months of the year corresponds to 25.3% of the 2026 target, reflecting a gradual recovery after constraints caused by prolonged droughts that have affected hydropower generation capacity in recent years, according to Lusa.
According to the report, growth was mainly supported by the performance of hydroelectric power plants, whose output increased by 10.1% compared with the same period last year. In total, these facilities generated 3,292 GWh in the first quarter, benefiting from higher inflows recorded during the rainy season. “The growth in production is largely due to the strong performance of hydroelectric plants, associated with increased dam inflows during the rainy season,” the document states.
Among the facilities contributing to this result is the Corumana dam in Maputo province, which recorded significant improvements in operational capacity due to the recovery of water levels. However, the country’s main source of hydroelectric power remains the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Plant, located in Tete province. With an installed capacity of 2,075 megawatts, the facility continues to play a central role in supplying the domestic market and exporting electricity to regional countries.
The recovery of water levels in the Cahora Bassa reservoir is one of the main factors behind the sector’s improved performance. In May, HCB reported that the reservoir had reached 56% capacity, recovering from historic lows caused by drought and opening prospects for higher-than-expected production this year. The company estimates output of 11,716.76 GWh in 2026, representing growth of over 7.2% compared with 2025. “The outlook is encouraging, reflecting the recovery of water storage levels in the reservoir,” HCB management noted in a recent operational update.
In addition to production growth, Mozambique also recorded a 5.1% increase in electricity exports in the first quarter, although performance was constrained by reduced sales from Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) to some regional markets. According to the report, the decline in exports by the state utility was linked to weaker sales to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and the absence of purchases from Botswana during the period under review.
The recovery observed in early 2026 represents a reversal of last year’s trend, when national electricity production fell by 25% to 14,408.3 GWh due to the impact of drought on water levels at the Cahora Bassa dam.
HCB closed 2025 with production of 10,921 GWh, down 30% year-on-year, in a context marked by the worst rainfall levels in four decades and the resulting reduction in water availability for power generation. Despite the challenges, the company says it will continue to focus on prudent water resource management, operational efficiency, and the adoption of technological solutions aimed at strengthening the reliability of the national energy system.
Source: Diário Económico
