A partnership between Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and private company VBC envisages the construction of a 45-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic solar plant in the district of Nhamatanda, Sofala province, at an estimated investment of US$69 million, equivalent to approximately €59.5 million.
According to Lusa, the Nhamatanda Solar Plant will be located in the Lamego area, on a site covering roughly 160 hectares. The project is currently in public consultation as part of the environmental licensing process and its associated Environmental Impact Assessment.
The facility will include two 110 kV transmission lines spanning approximately 11.9 kilometres, connecting the plant to the Lamego Substation and enabling the integration of generated power into the National Electricity Grid. The development is the result of a public-private partnership between EDM and VBC, aimed at strengthening electricity generation from renewable sources.
The project falls under the Energia para Todos (Energy for All) programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, and forms part of the government’s strategy to achieve universal electricity access by 2030. The environmental study identifies, however, potential impacts on agricultural land, economic activities, land occupation, and sites of cultural significance.
A Resettlement Plan and a Livelihood Restoration Plan are therefore to be drawn up for families that may be affected by the construction of the plant and its associated infrastructure.
The investment comes as Mozambique seeks to accelerate the expansion of electricity access. Official data show that more than 75,000 new connections were made in the first quarter of 2026, of which 44,743 were through the National Electricity Grid and 30,668 through autonomous systems powered by solar plants and mini-hydro facilities.
In June, the government also launched a tender for the installation of a 30 MW solar plant in the district of Dondo, also in Sofala province, under the resumed Renewable Energy Auction Promotion Programme (Proler), developed with support from the European Union.
According to the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, the programme aims to select private investors through competitive and transparent tender processes, seeking to secure renewable generation projects at lower costs for consumers.
EDM plans to invest US$82 million in 2026, of which approximately US$70 million will come from the World Bank-financed ProEnergia Project, with the remaining US$12 million to be provided by the company itself.
EDM’s board chairman, Joaquim Ou-chim, stated that the investment forms part of the utility’s strategy to achieve 100% electricity access by 2030, through grid expansion, off-grid solutions, and the reinforcement of existing infrastructure.
The company expects to complete at least 420,000 new connections by the end of 2026, with the potential to benefit approximately two million people. According to EDM data, the national electrification rate has reached 66.4%.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=533092
