Mozambique Renewables: Govt to expand solar energy natiowide

The Mozambican government and national and international entities yesterday signed an agreement to promote the use of solar energy, with a greater focus on rural areas, according to a statement from the Mozambican Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy.

The press release notes that the agreement is part of the “Compact Energy Africa” initiative, launched on 22 October 2015 in London by British and African leaders.

The project aims to accelerate the expansion of the domestic solar market in Africa and help achieve universal access to energy by 2030.

“The focus of the compact will be on the domestic use of solar photovoltaic systems, which include portable and fixed solar systems,” the statement said.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Mozambique, Leticia Klemens, and representatives of the European Union (EU), cooperation agencies from Germany, Italy and the USA, the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the African Development Bank.

The Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mozambique notes that solar energy is an option in response to the demand for energy services, particularly in rural areas such as health centres, schools and water supply, including public administration buildings.

From 2005 to 2014, more than 3.7 million Mozambicans benefited from solar projects in rural areas. Six hundred and sixty-nine schools, 623 health centres and 77 public buildings were electrified using photovoltaic technology. Source: Lusa