Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric (HCB), located in Tete province, is seeking ways to increase its current production capacity of 2,075 megawatts (MW) in order to better capitalize on the energy deficit in Southern Africa. The company aims to strengthen Mozambique’s role as a strategic energy supplier in the region.
To this end, HCB has planned rehabilitation works on the plant’s power generation facilities, alongside other electricity generation initiatives. The goal is to ensure production remains unaffected during the interventions while being reinforced in the medium term.
According to HCB’s Chairman of the Board, Tomás Matola, the company intends to help reduce the energy shortfall, especially in South Africa, and position Mozambique as a regional “hub” for electricity production and supply in the coming years.
Speaking last Friday, September 12, in Songo, Tete province, at the closing of the 2nd edition of the Technical-Scientific Days promoted by HCB, Matola warned that the country must move forward decisively or risk losing ground and opportunities. “We must move now. Otherwise, our neighbors will find alternatives and we will be left behind,” he said.
The Chairman explained that progress depends on rehabilitating the aging generation infrastructure, as well as building the North Plant and a solar power station. HCB has already started rehabilitation through the CAPEX Vital project, an investment plan to modernize and strengthen the plant’s production capacity. At the same time, preliminary studies are underway for the construction of a 400 MW solar plant to ensure that current production is not affected during the interventions, but instead increased upon completion of the works scheduled for 2032.
Also under preliminary study is the plan to build the North Plant at the HCB dam itself. The proposal is expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers later this year, so that the project can begin in 2026. Once completed, the North Plant will have the capacity to produce 1,245 MW through three generating units of 415 MW each.
Tomás Matola added that HCB’s vision for 2034 is to achieve a total production capacity of 4,000 MW, consolidating Mozambique’s position as a key energy supplier in the region and making the most of opportunities in the African energy market.
Source: Notícias
