Universal access to modern energy remains one of Mozambique’s greatest structural challenges, with direct implications for public health, environmental sustainability and economic development. The third panel of RENMOZ-2025, dedicated to the pillar ‘Universal Access to Modern Energy – Clean Cooking and SSD’, brought together representatives of international programmes, companies in the sector and public institutions to discuss concrete solutions for domestic electrification and the transition to clean fuels.
The debate was moderated by a representative of GOGLA, Collin Gumbu, director of policy and advocacy, who began with a global perspective: ‘Today, more than 660 million people live without access to electricity. Even among those connected to the grid, more than 1.6 billion have an unstable supply. When we look at clean cooking solutions, the picture is even more critical, especially in African countries such as Mozambique.’
From the BRILHO programme, Pedro Moleirinho presented data illustrating the recent evolution of the off-grid sector. ‘In 2019, the market was marginal, with less than 40,000 sales and two structured companies. Today, we have more than 25 active companies, greater geographical distribution and a growing role for carbon credits in reducing the cost of technologies for end users,’ he said.
The issue of financing emerged as a central point. Johanna Hartmann, from the EnDev/FASER programme, stressed that support should not only be financial: ‘Companies need ongoing technical assistance, product development and financial literacy training. Often, customers need time and confidence to decide to invest in a solar system or an improved stove.’
Miguel Sottomayor, from the World Bank-funded Mais Energia programme, detailed the mechanisms of the new fund. ‘We are working with pre- and post-sale models, with results-based incentives (RBF), geographical support and bonuses for quality customer portfolios. It is not just about volume. We want to ensure that, in three years, the systems are still operational, with a real impact on families,’ he explained.
On the business side, Eric Laborda, from Dynamiss, shared his experience with the pay-as-you-go model, through which more than 13,000 systems have been sold in rural areas. ‘We sell on credit in areas that are difficult to access. It is essential to have robust technology and a good customer relationship. This is the only way to ensure that the system is paid for and used efficiently,’ he said.
Xan Garcia, from AMER, highlighted the structural obstacles. ‘The energy access market is in its early stages. Diversification is already visible, but tax rules and regulatory response times continue to slow progress. We need to speed things up,’ he warned.
Another topic discussed was the role of carbon credits. Micas Cumbana, from MozCarbon, explained that his company’s model ‘is based on the import, certification and distribution of improved stoves, which generate carbon credits. These credits are used to lower the final cost of the stoves and invest in community activities.’
Pedro Moleirinho returned to the importance of sustainable and adapted models. ‘It is not enough to sell the product. We need to ensure that it is used continuously. We therefore suggest separating the commercial function from the credit management function. This will allow companies to specialise, reduce risks and improve customer service,’ he suggested.
The session ended with a consensus on the need to extend support to micro and small enterprises, improve the regulatory framework and strengthen public-private partnerships. Solutions are emerging, but the path to universal and sustainable access to energy requires coordinated measures tailored to the national reality.
About the event
The session was part of the programme of the 4th Renewable Energy Business Conference in Mozambique (RENMOZ-2025), which, over two days, brought together government decision-makers, regulators, investors, representatives of cooperation agencies, international financial institutions, energy sector companies and national and foreign experts. The main objective of the event in Maputo was to boost the country’s energy transition by aligning political priorities, regulatory instruments and financing models.
This edition also marked the official presentation of Mozambique’s energy transition strategy and promoted discussions around key areas such as green industrialisation, sustainable mobility, universal access to modern energy and the expansion of mini-grids and clean cooking solutions. The sessions were marked by technical presentations, experience sharing and strategic consensus building among the different actors involved in the transformation of the national energy system.
Source: Felisberto Ruco
