The Maputo Thermal Power Plant (CTM) was inaugurated in the morning of this Wednesday, 22nd August 2018, by the Head of State, Filipe Nyusi. The facility, which constitutes the biggest investmentof the Government of Mozambique and of EDM in power generation infra-structuresin the past 30 years, will generate 106 megawatts (MW) of energy to supply the South of the country, in particularMaputo City and Province, meeting approximately 25 per centof the energy demandin the southern region of the country.
The ceremonystarted at about 10:00 o’clock with a traditionalceremony, followed by a ribbon cutting and the plaque unveiling by the Head of State who was thentaken with other dignitaries to a guided tour in the command room and in the power plant, while the Project Director, Inácio Manuel,provided explanations about how the infra-structure works.
The second part of the programme was reserved for speeches. The Head of State said that the facilityis a very important gain for the countryand for the regionbecause it alleviates the import burden and reduces restrictionsand risks of outages in power supply.
The Head of State recalled that energy, in addition toagriculture, infra-structuresand tourism, constitutes a priority for the Governmentwith regard to its sustainable expansion and improvement of the qualityof social and economic infra-structures to increase the power generation base.
“This power plantis a pioneer in the countryand in our regionof Southern Africa and one of the most technically advanced in the world,”said the Head of Statewho then congratulatedEDM, the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energyand the Countryas a whole for this achievement.
Meanwhile, Filipe Nyusi considers still being urgent to solve the problems of the lack of energy in quantity and quality for the economy which is already in a frank recovery and for Southern Africa, where the demand is higher.
50 per cent of female staff
In turn, the Chairperson of EDM Board of Directors, Mateus Magala, said that the funding of about 167 million American Dollars for the construction of power plantdone by the Japanese Government,through JICA,and by the Mozambican Government, through EDM, includes the training of EDM staff in matters of operations and maintenance as well as six years of maintenance services to be provided by the manufacturer of the installed equipment.
“Thepower plantis ready to start providing commercial services and will be operated by a group of 68 young people recruited and trained in Mozambique and in Japan, where half of them are women and this is in the spirit of gender equality policy,”stated Magala.
According to EDM Chairperson, the Maputo Thermal Power Plant, combined with the Mavuzi and Chicamba Hydropower Plants, in Manica Province, and the Mocuba Solar Power Plant, under construction in Zambézia, will contribute for the diversification of the energy matrix and the increase by 150 per centof the capacity of EDM own power generation, moving from the current 206 MW to 325, from this precise moment.
The ceremonywas attended by the Governmentof Japan and JICA representativeswho showed their satisfaction and assured the continuity of the cooperation with Mozambique and with EDM in particular. Other participants included various members of the Central Governmentand institutionsof Mozambique.
