The Cuamba photovoltaic solar power plant in Mozambique has been inaugurated. President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, performed the opening ceremony of the plant which aims at towards increasing access to clean and sustainable energy, reducing carbon emissions, and fostering economic development in the region.
The Cuamba photovoltaic solar power plant is a 19 MWp solar farm equipped with a 7 MWh battery storage system. It is located in the town of Tetereane in the province of Niassa. The development is a public-private partnership (PPP) deal between the State of Mozambique and the British company Globeleq. This partnership involves collaboration between independent power producer (IPP) Globeleq, Source Energia, an energy producer in Portuguese-speaking Africa, and Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), Mozambique’s national electricity company.
READ:Enshore wins contract for cable works on Senegal Power Compact project
Environment impact
The US $36M project received funding from Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), and the Viability Gap Funding (VGF), a subsidy mechanism from the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG).
The solar power plant is expected to supply electricity to approximately 21,800 households in Mozambique. This will contribute to expanding access to electricity in the region, which is essential for economic development and improving the quality of life for residents. It is also projected to have a positive environmental impact by avoiding the emission of approximately 172,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2). This reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is a step towards mitigating climate change.
President Filipe Nyusi emphasized the importance of increasing the productive use of energy to promote production and income generation in the region. Additionally, he highlighted the agro-industrial potential of Cuamba, suggesting that it could become the economic center of the province of Niassa.