MOZAMBIQUE – The Swedish government has provided an extra US$5 million (€4 million) to Mozambique’s state electricity company Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) to increase power coverage in Vilanculos district, in Inhambane province, southern Mozambique, the Swedish embassy has said.
With Sweden’s contribution, over 100,000 families will have access to clean and reliable energy in the district the embassy said in a statement sent to the media.
“An electricity infrastructure that is stable, safe and less vulnerable to disasters related to climate change is crucial for the electrification of Vilanculos and this additional support from Sweden will help in that regard,” said Mette Sunnergren, the Swedish ambassador to Mozambique, cited in the statement.
According to the embassy, this is additional support, totalling US$44 million (€37 million) already provided by Sweden for the electrification of Vilanculos.
The new amount will serve for the rehabilitation of 14 kilometres of power line damaged by Cyclone Idai, which hit the country in 2019, causing EDM to lose revenue and consequently delay the process of power strengthening and expansion.
“Through this additional funding, the number of new connections will increase from the current 6,750 to 10,000 connections, mostly in Vilanculos,” the document indicated.
According to the latest figures from EDM, electric power reaches 40% of the Mozambican population, with 36% receiving it from the national grid and around 4% via alternative sources.
This comes as President Filipe Nyusi on 1 July 2021 pledged that over ten million households will have access to electricity in their homes for the first time by 2024 in the framework of the “Energy for All” Programme, intended to secure universal access to electrical power.
President Nyusi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving this goal at the inauguration of a power supply system in Macate district, in the central province of Manica. This cost US$238,000 disbursed by the government and will benefit 250 households. Presently, 66 connections have been established.
“Six months ago, I announced the abolition of the electricity connection fee, a move intended to fast track new connections and hasten the achievement of universal access to energy. We are not only encouraged but enthusiastic with the results attained so far. About 500 new consumers are connected to the national grid, every day,” President Nyusi said.
Since the elimination of the fee, he added, 115,317 households have been connected, while neighbourhoods and other public spaces have been illuminated, thus transforming the lives of many Mozambicans.
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