COP28: Africa50 to move forward with solar and transmission projects in Mozambique

Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), the Mozambican utility company, to collaborate on transformative clean energy projects in Mozambique to bridge the energy access gap in the country.

• 3 solar power plant projects with a total production capacity of 260 MW, with state-of-the-art Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including the first 100 MW floating solar photovoltaic power project to be developed in Mozambique.
• The PPPs will provide 400 km of new transmission lines and the associated infrastructure, which will be one of the first on the continent.

The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration between Africa50 and EDM to develop three solar power plants, including a floating solar power plant, as well as PPP projects for transmission lines. The projects are designed to enable and increase green energy production capacity – providing safe, reliable and more affordable clean energy where it is needed most.

Africa50 hopes to develop projects under the 4.5 billion dollar Africa Green Investment initiative announced by the COP28 Presidency, of which Africa50 has been selected as a strategic partner. The initiative aims to help accelerate and scale up green projects in Africa, promoting mitigation and adaptation to climate change, while at the same time helping to improve the quality of life.

The projects include the 100 MW Montepuez solar power plant in Cabo Delgado province and the 60 MW Angoche solar power plant in Nampula province, which will include a Battery Energy Storage System, as well as the 100 MW floating solar photovoltaic project in the western province of Manica, designed to use the surface of the Chicamba hydroelectric plant reservoir for power generation.

In addition to these generation projects, Africa50 and EDM have also signed MoUs for PPPs for transmission lines, with an initial set of high-voltage lines of around 400 km identified for development. Africa50 will bring the experience gained in developing the continent’s first transmission PPP, in Kenya, which is currently at an advanced stage of development, to enable the rapid execution of these projects. These lines form part of a green corridor, enabling the transfer of green energy to consumption centers.

“Mozambique has enormous renewable energy potential and Africa50 is pleased to partner with the country to help turn that potential into concrete and impactful energy projects, including pioneering floating solar technology. We look forward to joining forces with EDM to accelerate the deployment of green energy infrastructure in generation and transmission, leveraging private sector capital and our partnership with the UAE’s Africa Green Investment initiative to realize these significant investments in Mozambique.” Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50.

The signing of the transformative clean energy projects took place on the sidelines of COP28 UAE, in the presence of Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique, Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank and Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.