Mozambique: The districts in northern Cabo Delgado without power – O Pais report

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Mozambique: The districts in northern Cabo Delgado without power – O Pais report

1:58 CAT | 05 May 2021

Because of the terrorist attacks devastating the province, the districts of Muidumbe, Mueda, Nangade, Palma and Mocímboa da Praia in Cabo Delgado have been without electricity since September of last year, O País reports.

The situation is affecting about 25,000 customers, who are expected to remain in the dark for an indefinite period of time, as there are no predictions as to the restoration of service.

Also read: Mozambique: Five Cabo Delgado districts without electricity

“These districts are without power because our lines are out and, probably, because of problems in the Auasse substation,” explained Gildo Marques, director of Mozambique Electricity (EDM) in the Cabo Delgado area.

Lack of security is keeping EDM technicians from investigating the causes of the problem, much less the extent of the damage.

“It is possible that there are overturned posts, tree branches on the lines, vandalisation of transformers or other equipment, but we can only reconnect once security is re-established,” Marques explained.

The electricity outage is causing untold inconvenience for the population and causing huge losses for EDM, which has stopped billing and will also face the cost of repairing the damage.

“In the five districts without power, we [previously] had a turnover of 22 million meticais per month. In the last assessment made, up until June 2019, it was estimated that the attacks had caused losses of around US$4 million,” Marques revealed.

In addition to damages and losses, the terrorist attacks have obliged the abandonment of some projects for the expansion of electric supply, such as Rural Electrification and Energy for All.

By Hizidine Achá

Also read: Electricity in Palma and Mocímboa da Praia – a Pinnacle News report

Mozambique: EDM calls for urgent intervention in substations – AIM report

Source: O País