Mozambique and South Africa want to intensify cooperation in the energy sector

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Mozambique and South Africa want to intensify cooperation in the energy sector

1:08 CAT | 03 Mar 2020

Photo: Twitter / @GwedeMantashe1

The governments of Mozambique and South Africa are going to study ways to boost cooperation in the energy sector, with the aim of addressing the power deficit in Southern Africa, the national energy director for Mozambique has said.

Pascoal Bacela said that Maputo and Pretoria had reaffirmed the need to intensify cooperation in the energy sectors during a closed-door meeting between the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mozambique, Max Tonela, and his South African counterpart, Gwede Mantashe, in Maputo last week.

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“There is a convergence of positions between the two governments towards boosting cooperation in the energy sector,” Bacela said.

Bacela pointed out that South Africa, one of the continent’s largest economies, faces an energy deficit, which could be overcome with Mozambique’s support and the implementation of the various energy production projects the country has in the pipeline.

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“Mozambique has plans to increase its availability of energy, taking into account the domestic and southern African markets,” Bacela noted.

The National Director of Energy said that Max Tonela and Gwede Mantashe did not elaborate on specific next steps in cooperation in the energy sector.

Working Visit to Mozambique

Meeting with H.E Ernesto Max Tonela, Minister of Mineral Resources & Energy, to discuss Government to Government relations & how the 2 countries can complement each other on energy related issues. Mozambique is key to our domestic gas imperatives. pic.twitter.com/foonzynEfV

— Gwede Mantashe (@GwedeMantashe1) February 25, 2020

Mozambique is an important supplier of electricity to South Africa, thanks to the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Plant, situated at one of the largest dams in the world.

Maputo has plans for the development of several electricity production projects, including hydroelectric and natural gas-based plants.

Source: Lusa