Eskom will buy up to 90% of Mphanda Nkuwa's output

ESI-Africa reports that Alastair Campbell‚ Standard Bank's executive vice-president for mining‚ energy and infrastructure finance, said that there is significant interest in Mozambique's 1‚500MW Mphanda Nkuwa hydropower project. Standard Bank is the financial adviser on the project. The Mphanda Nkuwa plant‚ estimated to cost about R34.4bl‚ will consist of four turbines of 375MW each and 870MW of the capacity from the project will be firm power.

The project -- due for commissioning in either 2017 or 2018 -- is significant for SA because up to 90% of its output will in all probability be bought by Eskom‚ with Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) buying the remainder. SA's integrated resource plan for electricity (IRP2010) makes provision for 3‚349MW of imported hydro. According to ESI-Africa, Eskom imports power from the Cahora Bassa and once the Mphanda Nkuwa project has been commissioned, both projects would contribute in a significant way to the alleviation of the electricity shortages in southern Africa.

Read the full article on www.esi-africa.com.