New Power Project Unveiled To Benefit 37,000 Households In Mozambique’s Poorest Provinces
A new USD 19 Mn electricity sub-station has been inaugurated by Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi.
The sub-station located in Namialo administrative post, the northern province of Nampula was funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The project is part of the government’s ambitious efforts to ensure electricity is accessible and reliable to all citizens.
The newly unveiled sub-station would see the grid expand to provide power for 37,000 households in Nampula and Cabo Delgado.
Under “Energy for All” program “the government’s goal is to bring safe and reliable electrical power to all Mozambicans by 2030,” Nyusi said.
At the moment, 31 percent of the Mozambique population has access to electricity and the country aims to reach 34 percent by the end of 2019.
Worthy to mention, Nyusi noted that the increase in electricity access has huge socio-economical impacts further encouraging the people to open businesses to make proper use of the power to earn a decent living.
He particularly urged citizens to establish industrial units, particularly in agro-processing, that utilize power.
“Producing electricity has costs and we can only compensate for these if industries are producing. But there won’t be any factories processing cotton, maize or cashew nuts if we don’t produce enough of these crops,” he said.
Energy demand in the Southern African country is mostly driven by industry and business since the majority of the population are unable to afford current tariffs despite it being subsidized.
The president acknowledged the fact the country has a long way to go to ensure everyone has access to power further reiterating that the steps already are taken are a milestone.
“We are fully aware of the challenge that ‘Energy for All’ represents”, Nyusi added. “But, as a determined people, we are sure that we shall be able to overcome the challenge and we are fighting for this”.
Featured Image Courtesy: Invest Africa
