The World Bank has confirmed its support for the Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric project, one of the largest power generation initiatives in southern Africa. The project, located around 60 kilometres downstream from the Cahora Bassa dam on the Zambezi River, is designed to generate up to 1500 megawatts of electricity, which could increase the country’s energy production capacity by more than 50%.
The World Bank’s support includes technical and institutional assistance, as well as financial support that has yet to be announced. This collaboration aims to ensure that the project is aligned with international environmental and social safeguard standards, promoting a sustainable and inclusive development model.
The project also includes the construction of a high-voltage transmission line of around 1,300 kilometres, which will connect the Mphanda Nkuwa power station to Maputo, ensuring the efficient transport of energy to the south of the country and the region.
Led by an international consortium made up of Électricité de France (EDF), TotalEnergies and Sumitomo Corporation, the project has 70 per cent private sector participation, while the remaining 30 per cent is held by Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB). This financing structure reflects a public-private partnership model that has been gaining prominence in strategic infrastructure projects on the continent.
The project is part of the objectives of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), a regional electricity interconnection network that aims to strengthen energy trade and energy security between the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
As well as generating energy, the Mphanda Nkuwa project is expected to create thousands of jobs during the construction and operation phases, support the development of local communities and contribute to efforts to mitigate climate change by expanding access to clean energy.
According to the Mozambican government, this initiative marks a decisive step towards transforming the national electricity sector and positioning Mozambique as a strategic exporter of renewable energy to the region.
Source: Further Africa
