- Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, placed the foundation stone yesterday marking the beginning of construction of the 41MW Metoro Solar Power Plant in Ancuabe district, Cabo Delgado province.
- The project has a budgeted Capex of USD 56 million.
- It will be connected to the Mozambique Electricity [EDM] substation in Metoro, Ancuabe, the project presentation released to the media details.
- French IPP Neoen and Mozambique’s energy utility, EDM are shareholders of the project – with 75% and 25% respectively.
- Funding provided by the French Development Agency (AFD), with a loan of 40 million, and the remainder by the Mozambican government.
According to the project’s presentation document, after 25 years the infrastructure will be handed over to EDM. It is estimated that the plant will create up to 380 jobs in the construction phase and invest at least US$60,000 annually in projects for local communities.
“A needs and dynamics assessment in Metoro and Ancuabe was carried out in 2016, and a preliminary Community Development Plan was approved by the Ancuabe District Government in June 2018, with a focus on the area of education,” the document details.
The solar plant will be located 90 kilometres from Pemba, the provincial capital of Cabo Delgado in the north of the country, next to National Road Number 1 (EN1).
The enterprise is being built in a province that has for three years been the scene of armed attacks by forces classified as terrorists, although there are have been no incursions in the area where the plant will be located. Armed violence in Cabo Delgado has affected districts located further north in the province.In all, the Mozambican government and relief organisations, notably UN agencies, point to a total of 300,000 displaced by the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado. Related news
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
