Globeleq, a leader in the energy production sector in Mozambique, announced that work on the Namaacha wind farm, with a capacity of 120 Megawatts, is due to start in the second half of this year. The project, budgeted at 270 million dollars, is a collaboration with the Mozambican government and was highlighted during the Mozambique Energy and Mining Exhibition Conference, an event attended by President Filipe Nyusi and the UK’s high commissioner in Maputo, according to the LUSA news agency.

“The plant will significantly increase our energy export capacity, benefiting not only Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) with more advantageous prices, but also meeting the growing national energy demand,” Samir Salé, Globeleq’s Director of Development and Business, told the Mozambican Information Agency (AIM).

Of the total investment, 230 million dollars will be used to build and operate the plant, and the remaining 40 million will go towards developing a 40-kilometer transmission line, which will link Namaacha to Boane, integrating with the region’s export corridors.

“This project not only strengthens the distribution network in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane, but also marks the start of the country’s first grid-connected wind farm. We are aligned with the government’s energy transition strategy, focused on maximizing renewable resources,” he explained.

The project, which is expected to be completed in two years, is a milestone for the country’s energy sector and reflects Mozambique’s potential in harnessing renewable energy, contributing to the sustainability and resilience of the national electricity grid.

With the extension of energy under development, supported by the Temane Thermal Power Plant Project, with a capacity of 450 MW, expected to start operations in October this year, the Namaacha Wind Power Plant, with a capacity of 120 MW, in the restructuring phase, the structuring of the Mpanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Project, with a planned capacity of 1,500 MW. With the Phanda Kwua project, the government plans to reach at least 10 million Mozambicans.

ʺBy the end of 2024, our goal is to have all the remaining Administrative Post Headquarters electrified, after having successfully electrified all the district headquarters. Our goal is for the coverage rate to reach 64%, ensuring that 10 million Mozambicans have electricity for the first timeʺ.

The President of the Republic, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, made the statements about the extension of electricity network coverage during his opening speech at the 10th edition of the Mozambique Energy and Mining Conference and Exhibition, which is being held under the slogan: ʺPartnerships for prosperity: unlocking Mozambique’s resources to advance national and regional economic growthʺ.

Also at the event, the president highlighted the importance of the extractive sector in the country’s economy, being one of the main poles for development, with an influence on the growth of the Gross Domestic Product.

The soon-to-be-executed Mphanda Nkuwa project represents a substantial investment in renewable energy infrastructure, aimed at meeting the country’s growing energy needs and contributing to the mitigation of climatic events and environmental preservation in Mozambique and the region.

The European Union, along with other countries and organizations around the world, has shown interest in this project. Recently, a mission made up of the heads of cooperation and EU member states in Mozambique made a four-day working visit to Tete province to assess the state of implementation of renewable energy projects.

During the visit, the mission met with the staff of the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Project Implementation Office (GMNK) and the strategic partner, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the development of the activities.

The director of GMNK, Carlos Yum, emphasized the importance of complying with international environmental standards in order to mobilize funding for the project. He highlighted the project’s commitment to the social component, including the resettlement of populations within the law and good governance, essential elements to guarantee the quality of the financing.

With an estimated cost of 4.5 billion euros, the Mphanda Nkuwa project includes the development of a run-of-river dam, a hydroelectric power station with an installed capacity of up to 1500 Megawatts and a high-voltage power transmission line from Tete to Maputo. The project is expected to start operating in 2031.