Mozambique to approve $2,5bn power line project
Thématique :
mozambique
Mozambique will approve a $2,5-billion plan to build a new 2 000 km electricity transmission line from the HCB dam in the western Tete province to the capital Maputo, a government official said on Monday.
Energy Minister Salvador Namburete told reporters the country's publicly owned electricity utility EDM and other funding agencies will start the project after cabinet approval.
"The last study finished three months ago [and] the private consultant will now present the results of the study on the most viable option," Namburete said.
"Then we shall evaluate and make our decision. As soon as we have decided on the option, we shall finalise the design and launch the public tender."
Namburete said the transmission line would help reduce the country's dependence on South Africa, which buys the bulk of power generated at the Hydro-Electric Cahora Bassa (HCB) dam and then sells it back to Mozambique.
"Without this new transmission line, it's difficult to advance to the other electricity generation projects that we want to develop," Namburete said.
"We want to supply the urban centres of the south from within Mozambique, and ensure that electricity reaches other parts of the country."
Mozambique's major dam, the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric (HCB) plant, produces 2 075 megawatts of electricity. It currently provides 60 percent of its power to South Africa's Eskom and 35 percent to Zimbabwe's power utility Zesa, while Mozambique consumes 5 percent.
