Mozambique Energy Production
Powering Mozambique: A Comprehensive Look at Energy Production in 2025
Mozambique, nestled in southeastern Africa, is a nation brimming with energy potential, ranked first in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) with an estimated capacity of 187,000 MW from coal, hydroelectricity, natural gas, solar, and wind (Energy in Mozambique). Despite this vast potential, current energy production is more modest, with a focus on hydropower, natural gas, and emerging renewables. The energy sector is a cornerstone of Mozambique's economy, driving industrial growth and generating significant foreign exchange through exports, particularly electricity to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. This article explores Mozambique's domestic energy production, the capacity of its generation facilities, and highlights significant power plants and ongoing energy projects, providing a detailed snapshot of the nation's energy landscape as of April 2025.
Domestic Energy Production
Mozambique's total energy production was recorded at 20.23 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2018, encompassing electricity, biomass, and fossil fuels (Mozambique Energy Situation). For electricity specifically, production in 2019 reached 7,089 GWh, with the following breakdown:
> 52% from Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), the country's flagship hydroelectric facility.
> 35% from other Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
> 10% from thermal plants operated by Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM).
> 2% from other hydro plants operated by EDM.
> 1% imported from neighboring countries.
By 2021, the electricity mix shifted slightly, with HCB contributing 51%, IPPs 34%, and imports 1%, while EDM's generation moved from thermal to hydro, reflecting a growing emphasis on renewable sources. Mozambique is a net exporter of energy, particularly electricity, to regional neighbors, underscoring its role as a key supplier in the SAPP (Mozambique Power Generation).
Traditional biomass, such as wood and agricultural residues, dominates total energy consumption, particularly in rural areas where only 5% of the population has electricity access (Mozambique Energy Situation). However, for electricity generation, hydropower remains the backbone, supplemented by natural gas, heavy fuel oil, and a small but growing share of solar energy.
Capacity of Energy Generation Facilities
As of 2020, Mozambique's total installed electricity generation capacity was 2,780 MW, with projections to expand to 6,001 MW by 2030 to meet growing demand and achieve universal electrification (Mozambique Energy Situation). The capacity breakdown by energy source in 2020 was:
Hydropower: 2,189 MW (79%), driven by large-scale projects like Cahora Bassa.
Natural Gas: 442 MW (16%), with potential for significant growth due to offshore reserves.
Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO): 108 MW (4%), used mainly for backup and industrial power.
Solar: 41 MW (1%), an emerging sector with rapid development.
Peak demand is expected to grow by approximately 900 MW to 2,750 MW by 2025, driven by efforts to connect nearly 5 million unelectrified households (Energy Sector). To achieve universal electrification by 2030, the country aims to more than double its capacity to almost 6,500 MW. This expansion is supported by government policies encouraging private sector participation, including IPPs, with the first IPPs coming online in 2015 (Mozambique Power Generation).
Significant Power Plants
Mozambique's energy sector is anchored by several key power plants, which are critical for both domestic supply and regional exports:
Cahora Bassa (HCB):
Capacity: 2,075 MW
Location: Tete Province, on the Zambezi River
Significance: One of Africa's largest hydroelectric plants, supplying up to 88% of Mozambique's power in 2014 and exporting 65% of its generation to South Africa, with the remaining 35% sold to northern Mozambique and Zimbabwe (Mozambique Power Generation). It is a cornerstone of the country's energy mix and regional energy trade.
Other Hydropower Plants:
Massingir: 40 MW, managed by EDM.
Lurio: 120 MW, contributing to local electricity supply.
Majawa: 25 MW, a smaller-scale hydro project.
Malema: 60 MW, enhancing local generation capacity (Mozambique Energy Situation).
Temane Combined Cycle Gas-Fired Power Plant: Capacity: 450 MW Location: Inhambane Province.Significance: Began commercial operations in early 2025, boosting electricity generation by 16% and supplying power to approximately 1.5 million households. It uses gas from the Pande, Temane, and Inhassoro fields and is developed through a public-private partnership led by Globeleq, Sasol, and EDM (Mozambique's 450 MW Temane Power Project).
Mocuba Solar Power Station: Capacity: 40 MW Location: Zambezia Province. Significance: Inaugurated in 2019 as Mozambique's first utility-scale solar plant, marking a step toward diversifying the energy mix with renewables (Energy Sector).
Major Energy Projects
Mozambique is actively developing several energy projects to increase capacity, diversify its energy mix, and improve access, particularly in rural areas. Key projects include:
Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower: Planned Capacity: 2,500 MW. Location: Zambezi River, downstream from Cahora Bassa. Status: Environmental and Social Impact Study underway, with a strategic partner announced in May 2023 led by EDF. Significance: Expected to be one of Africa's largest hydroelectric projects, it is part of the government's priority plan to add 2,000 MW of new hydropower capacity by 2030, supporting both domestic needs and exports (Mozambique Energy Situation).
CB North Bank Hydropower Expansion: Planned Capacity: 850 to 1,300 MW. Location: Expansion of the existing Cahora Bassa facility. Status: Feasibility study underway. Significance: Aims to enhance the capacity of the existing Cahora Bassa plant, further boosting hydropower output (Mozambique Energy Situation).
Solar Power Projects:
By the end of 2022, Mozambique had developed 125 MW of solar capacity under public-private partnerships, with 60 MW connected to the national grid, including projects like Mocuba (40 MW), Metoro (20 MW), Cuamba (15 MW), Cuamba II (30 MW), Pemba/Mecufi (20 MW), and Dondo (30 MW) (Mozambique Energy Situation).
The government has promoted solar PV solutions, powering 700 schools and 800 public buildings, particularly in rural areas (Mozambique - Countries & Regions).
The African Development Bank approved a $2.5 million grant in 2022 to support renewable energy development, including the Mozambique Renewable Energy Integration Program (AfDB Sustainable Energy Grant).
Natural Gas Projects:
Natural gas is projected to provide 44% of total energy generation from 2020 to 2030, with gas-based generation expected to increase by 18.1% annually through 2025 (Mozambique Power Generation).
The Temane Combined Cycle Gas-Fired Power Plant (450 MW) began operations in early 2025, funded by a consortium including the International Finance Corporation, US Development Finance Corporation, and OPEC Fund (Mozambique's 450 MW Temane Power Project).
The $20 billion Mozambique LNG project by TotalEnergies faces delays beyond 2029 due to security concerns and the need to end force majeure (TotalEnergies LNG Delay).
Transmission and Distribution Projects:
Mozambique-Zambia Interconnector: Two 400KV HVAC lines, costing $313 million, to enhance regional energy trade.
Mozambique-Malawi Interconnector: Costing $154 million, funded by the World Bank, European Bank, and KfW.
Temane Transmission Project (TTP): A $506 million project to deliver electricity from Temane to Maputo via a 563 km transmission line, supporting the distribution of gas-fired power (Mozambique's 450 MW Temane Power Project).
Challenges and Future Outlook
Mozambique faces several challenges in its energy sector:
Low Electrification Rates: As of 2022, only 44% of the population had access to electricity, with rural areas at just 5%, limiting economic opportunities and quality of life (Mozambique Energy Situation).
Infrastructure Gaps: An underdeveloped power distribution network and bureaucratic hurdles in project development hinder progress (Energy Sector).
Project Delays: Security issues, as seen with the TotalEnergies LNG project, and financial constraints, such as EDM's weak financial capabilities, pose risks to project timelines (TotalEnergies LNG Delay).