Mozambique is moving forward with the development of the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Project, a massive $6 billion undertaking on the Zambezi River that is poised to become the largest new power project in southern Africa in the past 50 years.
The 1,500-megawatt (MW) plant is a cornerstone of Mozambique’s national strategy to achieve universal electricity access for all its 33 million citizens by 2030 and cement its position as a regional energy exporter.
- Capacity: 1,500 MW, significantly increasing Mozambique’s available power generation capacity.
- Location: Downstream from the existing Cahora Bassa dam on the Zambezi River, near Tete.
- Consortium: The project is being developed by a consortium including French energy giants TotalEnergies and Électricité de France (EDF), alongside Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and Mozambican state-owned entities.
- Timeline: The plant is currently expected to begin operations by 2031.
- Regional Impact: The energy generated will help address a regional power deficit estimated at 10,000 MW, supplying power to both the domestic market and neighboring countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe.
- World Bank Support: The World Bank is providing support through risk guarantees and concessional funding for associated infrastructure like transmission lines, aligning with a global shift toward private sector-led development for high-impact projects.
While heralded as a major step for regional energy security and economic growth, the project, which includes a high-voltage transmission line stretching over 1,300 kilometers to Maputo, continues to face scrutiny from environmental and community groups over potential social and ecological impacts on the Zambezi River and surrounding communities.
The Mozambican government recently approved the concession contract, marking a critical legal step in the project’s implementation phase, with a focus now shifting toward securing final financial closure.
