Page 12 - AfrElec Week 06 2022
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AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec
Mozambique president
launches Cabo Delgado
solar power station
MOZAMBIQUE MOZAMBICAN President Filipe Nyusi has vigilance in protecting the 920 solar panels and
inaugurated a photo-voltaic power station in the system, noting sabotage by Islamic State-linked
gas-rich northern province of Cabo Delgado insurgents in the region.
built by the National Energy Fund (FUNAE), at Mozambique aims to scrap ageing diesel-fired
a cost of MZN140.8mn ($2.2mn). generating systems as it strives to bring electric-
Mozambique is among the world’s poorest ity to all parts of the country by 2030 under the
countries and access to electricity is extremely government’s “Energy for All” initiative.
limited, with only 6% of the rural population The government aims to bring electricity to
having access. 10mn Mozambicans by 2024, or 64% of the pop-
The new PV power station, situated in the ulation, up from 44% as of late 2021, according
Ngapa administrative post, in Mueda district, to AIM.
is part of the government’s drive to electrify Cabo Delgado, a coastal province rich in
administrative posts nationwide by 2024. natural gas reserves and host to an estimated
“With this inauguration, we want to show $60bn worth of international investment in gas
the strategic importance of renewable sources projects, has been plagued by insurgency since
of energy in the sustainable development of the October 2017.
country”, Nyusi said, Agência de Informação de The violence has left at least 3,100 dead,
Moçambique (AIM) reports. according to the Armed Conflict Location &
Speaking at the ceremony on Wednes- Event Data Project (ACLED), which tracks polit-
day (February 2), the president also called for ical violence around much of the world.
Malawi appeals for help restoring
power after Tropical Storm Ana
MALAWI MALAWI’S only power generating company the intake of the machines has been destroyed,”
says it lost about a third of its generating capac- EGENCO chief executive William Liabunya
ity to Tropical Storm Ana, which touched down told VOA. “We had the training dike and that
on January 24. The government is appealing for has been washed away.”
funds to repair the station, VOA reports. EGENCO operates four hydropower sta-
“These works cannot be done with only our tions in Malawi, Nkula, Tedzani, Kapichira
local purse because we are so exhausted with and Wovwe, which account for some 390MW
other related issues,” Malawi’s Minister of Energy of its total installed generation capacity of over
Ibrahim Matola is quoted as saying. “I would like 440MW.
to call upon the international community, the The storm damage at Kapichira alone cost the
World Bank, IMF, European Union, Britain and company 30% of the total hydropower genera-
the Americans to come and assist us”. tion, Liabunya told VOA, and even a temporary
According to the EGENCO power company, fix could take six months to implement.
Malawi has lost about 130MW following the Malawi would need about $23mn for the
shutdown of its Kapichira Power Station in the temporary rehabilitation of the damaged Kapi-
Chikwawa district due to the storm. chira Power Station, according to the Ministry
“We have lost the dam here because the con- of Energy..
trol mechanism that we had to take the water to
P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 06 10•February•2022
