Maputo, 8 Apr (AIM) – Mozambique’s publicly owned electricity company, EDM, has agreed to increase its sales of electricity to its Zambian counterpart, ZESCO, from 50 to 90 megawatts, during off-peak hours.
To this end, the chairperson of EDM, Marcelino Alberto, and the general manager of ZESCO, Victor Mapani, last Thursday signed an amendment to the agreement between the two countries on the purchase and sale of electricity.
The amendment extended the validity of the agreement, and revised the price at which the power was sold.
“Not only do we want to sell larger amounts of electricity, but we also want to establish partnerships in the sector, and generate the trust necessary to improve sales”, said Alberto, in an EDM press release.
He stressed that EDM is ready to overcome Zambia’s current shortage of electricity, caused by the drought which has affected its hydro-electric dams, and their ability to generate power,
Alberto added that, in the medium term, a 400 kilometre interconnection transmission line will be built between Mozambique and Zambia. This is on a list of priority projects, which will allow an increase in electricity exports to 2,000 megawatts.
For his part, Victor Mapani praised the strong partnership between the two companies, and their undertaking to strengthen the stability and growth of the electricity sector within SADC (Southern African Development Community).
“The additional capacity contracted means a significant effort to mitigate the electricity deficit in Zambia”, stressed Mapani. “This should fill the gap in supplying essential power for production and for services”.
The amendment was signed on the sidelines of a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) held in Lusaka.
(AIM)
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