The energy coverage rate in Mozambique has risen from 48 per cent in 2022 to 52 per cent this year, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy announced today during the inauguration of a new electricity network in Gaza.
“In 2021, the energy coverage rate was 42 per cent, which rose to 48 per cent in 2022 and now stands at 52 per cent,” said Carlos Zacarias, during the inauguration of the electricity network at the Zinhane administrative post in the Chigubo district of Gaza, southern Mozambique.
According to the Mozambican minister, the electricity network inaugurated today is budgeted at 49 million meticais (707,000 euros), used for the construction of 35 kilometres of medium voltage network, four kilometres of low voltage network and the installation of two transformer stations.
For the minister, the electrification of Zinhane will improve the living conditions of the local population, as well as being an “important asset for new dynamism in the areas of agriculture, fishing, agro-processing and tourism”.
“I’m very happy to have energy, now I’m even selling soft drinks and ice cream, I’m very happy,” said Joana Ismael, 34, a trader and resident of Zinhane, who wanted to open her business in 2005, but due to the lack of electricity was only able to realise her dream 18 years later.
“We suffered a lot because of the lack of electricity here in Zinhane, we used candles to light the house,” added the housewife.
In Gaza province, four of the 45 existing administrative posts have yet to be electrified, said Carlos Zacarias, asking the population to contribute to the “relentless fight” against vandalisation and theft of electrical equipment, phenomena that are happening all over the country.
Mozambique has 416 administrative posts, 318 of which are connected to the National Electricity Grid, according to Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM).
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said on 8 November that at least 55 administrative posts have been electrified since 2020 in the country, as part of the presidential initiative “Energy for all”.
According to the head of state, in the last three years more than 1.2 million Mozambicans have had access to electricity, bringing the country closer to the goal of universal access to energy.
In August, the chairman of EDM, Marcelino Gildo, said that the company needed 138.1 million euros to complete the electrification of all administrative posts in Mozambique, an essential step towards the “great challenge” of universal access to energy.
The Mozambican government has set a target of 57 per cent of households having access to the electricity grid by the end of the year – with a forecast of 495,000 new connections – coverage guaranteed by state-owned company Eletricidade de Moçambique, which contrasts with 34 per cent at the end of 2019.
