Mozambique to build three gas-fired power stations

Two plants are planned for Ressano Garcia, near the South African border, and the third in the southern town of Chokwe. Natural gas from Mozambique's onshore reserves will power the plants, the paper said.

Some of the power will be injected into Mozambique Electricity's (EDM) national network but some will be exported to neighbouring countries experiencing shortages, in particular Malawi. Tenders are expected to open later this year.

The announcement follows the opening last week of a $2.9-million gas-fired plant in Ressano Garcia, built by the British firm Agrekko. That station generates 107 megawatts of power, mainly for sale to South Africa.

Mozambique is poised to become a major energy player with huge offshore gas finds over the last year. The country is also in a $2.5 billion project to build two transmission lines between the centre and the south of the country, where most people live without electricity.

But the project is mainly designed to meet the needs of new coal mines in the centre of the country.

Source: AFP