The Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric project, located in Marara district, Tete province, central Mozambique, is moving into a new phase with the start of the process to select a specialised company to carry out the environmental and social studies.
According to the newspaper Noticias this Wednesday, 11 December, the phase is crucial to ensure that the project, valued at 5.5 billion dollars, is developed in a sustainable way, respecting local communities and the environment.
The Mphanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Office (GMNK), responsible for implementing the project, has received funding from the International Development Association (IDA) to pay for the preparatory activities for this stage. The selected company will be responsible for coordinating, managing and involving all stakeholders in the process, including the Ministries of Mineral Resources and Energy, and Land and Environment, both at central and provincial level.
The studies include the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), the Resettlement Action Plan, as well as environmental and social governance mechanisms and conflict resolution. The aim of this work is to ensure that the project is in line with national policies, the requirements of funding bodies such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, and international best practice standards.
With a projected capacity to generate 1,500 MW, the project will create around 7,000 jobs during construction and 3,000 permanent jobs after its completion, with 95 per cent of the jobs going to Mozambican workers.
This stage reaffirms the commitment of the government and investors to implement a project that expands the country’s energy capacity and promotes sustainable development and social inclusion in the communities affected.