Mozambique announces an ambitious new energy plan
The southern African nation seeks investors for its energy transition at the world's largest climate change summit.
Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi has presented his country’s new ground-breaking energy transition plan, set to last until 2050, to international partners and potential donors at COP28, according to reports.
The US$80 billion plan, approved by the Mozambican Council of Ministers on 21 November, outlines a comprehensive strategy to propel the nation toward a more sustainable future by enhancing renewable energy capabilities and ensuring wider electricity availability.
Mozambique is not the only African country seeking improved climate financing for renewable energies at the conference. The continent is home to many of the lowest carbon emitters in the world yet has suffered some of the most severe impacts of climate change, including Cyclone Freddy which killed 500 people and displaced thousands this year in Mozambique and neighbouring Malawi.
[See more: Half of all households in Mozambique have no electricity]
The plan outlines crucial initiatives set to unfold between 2023 and 2030.
One key component is a substantial boost of 2,000 MW in hydropower – a 67 percent increase to Mozambique’s electricity production potential – achieved through upgrades to existing facilities and the completion of the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower project, set to begin construction next year.
With nearly half of Mozambican households currently without connection to the grid or other electricity solutions, expansion of the national grid is also a priority. A more comprehensive grid will also help facilitate the goal of transitioning to electric vehicles, mitigating emissions in the transport sector.
