Cláudio Dambe, director of Electrification and Projects at Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), said that the authorities are working closely with the Indian contractor hired to carry out the work on the high-voltage transmission line, with a view to speeding up the current pace of work.
According to the newspaper Notícias, Cláudio Dambe acknowledged that, until recently, the progress of the works was worrying, which led to the creation of an action plan to reverse the situation. “At the moment, we have technicians on the ground assessing what has actually been done, and I believe we will have the results in the next few days,” said Dambe.
The same source acknowledged that the delays were not only in Mozambique, but also on the Malawi side. However, he stressed that the situation is more serious in the national territory. “There is indeed a delay in Malawi, but in Mozambique the length of the line is twice as long as in the neighboring country and the contractor is the same, which is why the problems on the other side of the border are also occurring here,” explained Dambe. He also mentioned that the delays on the Mozambican side are not entirely attributable to the Indian contractor, due to the initial need to hire a specialized company for demining and to negotiate the crossing of the line through an area reserved for mining.
The first assessment of this plan will be made in a few days, later this month, with preliminary results expected soon.
It should be remembered that the foundation stone for the construction of the high-voltage transmission line between Mozambique and Malawi was laid in November 2021. Due to initial delays, work only began in March 2023.
“The high-voltage line between Mozambique and Malawi will be 560 kilometers long, 280 in each country. This infrastructure will allow the interconnection of the electricity grids of the two countries and the export of surplus energy from Mozambique to Malawi,” reads the news report.
Valued at 381.5 million dollars, the high-voltage line is financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank (WB). The project aims to increase access to electricity in the region, promoting economic and social development in both countries.
Accelerating the works is a priority for EDM and the partners involved, who recognize the importance of the infrastructure for energy integration and sustainable development in the region.
