Mozambique: World Bank approves $131 million for electricity projects
Mozambique: EDM to invest over 400 million US dollars on access to electricity
7:45 CAT | 06 Oct 2022
FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Rádio Moçambique]
The publicly owned company Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) is investing 413 million US dollars for the implementation of the second phase of Energy for All (ProEnergy Programme which seeks to increase access to electricity service across the country.
Energy for All Programme aims at promoting electricity access to more households and business nationwide, as a contribution to reach the Sustainable Energy for All target of Universal Energy Access by 2030
EDM director of electrification and projects, Claudio Dambe, made the announcement this Wednesday in Maputo during the Radio Mozambique programme Café da Manhã.
“We have already mobilised 413 million US dollars for the second phase of the expansion nationwide. We are now launching tenders, most of which are already completed and we are also working with the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA) and the Chamber of Commerce to challenge Mozambique’s business community to participate,” he explained.
He pointed out that since tender specifications use World Bank guidelines there is a need to build capacity of local business community to compete in equal terms and join Mozambique’s electrification process.
Still in view with mass electrification, EDM invested 156 million dollars in the first phase, which is currently in the final stage and is scheduled to end by February, when the equipment for the second phase is expected to arrive.
“The first phase is not yet finished, but we are already at 90 percent of what was planned and we believe that by the end of February we will be working under the first phase while the equipment for the second phase are arriving, meaning that there will be continuity in the expansion if the electric grid to provide for new connections ″, he noted.
In another development, he expressed his concern with widespread vandalisation of electricity infrastructures which severely affects the implementation of the Energy for All Programme.
The money that should be invested to build new infrastructures and expansion of the national grid end up being used to replace infrastructures vandalised by criminals.
“Vandalisation affects a lot and although the implementation of the project is supported by external donors, the cost of maintaining and operating the national grid is supported by EDM’s own revenues. So when we invest part of our resources to replace equipment and grid that had already been built and we are delaying the electrification process,” he lamented.
Therefore, Dambe calls all Mozambicans to report any cases of vandalisation and theft of electricity infrastructure.
Launched in 2020, Energy for All Programme is made up by three main components, namely massification of new connections, expansion of the electricity grid to the Administrative Posts and the improve quality service rendered to customers.
As part of the electricity massification EDM managed to connect 223,000 households to the national electricity grid in 2020, a number that increased to 307,000 in 2021.
This year the goal is to connect 320,000 households to the national electricity grid, of which 213,000 have been completed.
Source: AIM
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