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2000 MW gas-fired power plant planned for Beluluane Industrial Park
12:35 CAT | 18 Jun 2019
File: The investment and development of 2000 MW energy capacity will take place at Beluluane Industrial Park. [File photo: Supplied]
Construction of a gas-fired thermal-electric power plant capable of generating 2000 megawatts of electricity could start in Beluluane Industrial Park in Maputo province this year.
Notícias has learned that a detailed draft has already been submitted to the government for analysis and approval.
The project is valued at approximately US$700 million and is being promoted by Mozambican and foreign investors who intend to produce electricity for South Africa and other markets in the Southern Africa region.
Lourenço Sambo, director general of Mozambique’s Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Exports (APIEX), said that project will also to supply electricity to the Mozal aluminium smelter.
At a later stage, when the ‘electrical backbone’ project (linking the north and south of Mozambique) is completed, the Beluluane plant may supply electricity to other parts of the country.
Sambo said construction of the Beluluane thermal-electric plant could take up to four years.
In the first phase of operation, the plant will use imported natural gas, but when the LNG projects in the Rovuma basin come online, it will use national resource.
Sambo said that the construction of the plant was part of plans to utilise that part of natural gas output slated to remain in the country.
“It means that when Rovuma projects come on stream, the country will have infrastructure ready to transform the gas and generate foreign exchange through the export of clean energy to the regional market,” Sambo said.
He pointed out that the ambitious initiative originates with energy companies already established in the country, namely Gigawatt, Agreko, CTRG, Livaningo, Electricity of Mozambique (EDM) and other foreign investors.
Sambo justified the initial use of imported gas citing the fact that gas generated from Pande and Temane fields was completely taken over by projects already in operation and could not meet the needs of a 2000 megawatt thermos-electric plant.
The possible future thermal-electric power station will ultimately be able to generate as much energy as the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Plant (HCB), which can currently produce up to 2075 megawatts.
About Beluluane Industrial Park
Beluluane Industrial Park is an industrial park and free-trade zone which is situated in one of the most industrialised and productive regions of Mozambique. It is home to more than 35 companies from 15 different counties, including South32’s Mozal Aluminium Smelter. Beluluane Industrial Park is one the biggest providers of industrial jobs in Maputo Province
Source: Notícias
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