Mphanda Nkuwa and the International Hydropower Association launch second phase of sustainability assessment of 1 500 MW hydropower project in Mozambique

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Mphanda Nkuwa and the International Hydropower Association launch second phase of sustainability assessment of 1 500 MW hydropower project in Mozambique
Mphanda Nkuwa and the International Hydropower Association launch second phase of sustainability assessment of 1 500 MW hydropower project in Mozambique

Africa-Press – Mozambique. Under the collaboration agreement with the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and with the support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Project Implementation Office (GMNK) is delivering a workshop on 29 and 30 November on hydropower sustainability in Mozambique with a focus on the Mphanda Nkuwa project.

This cooperation seeks to align the country’s hydropower development with good international practices.

The aim is to increase the sustainability performance of projects and contribute to the implementation of the Paris Agreement on mitigating and adapting to climate change, protecting the environment, and respecting and empowering local communities.

Dedicated to transparency and continuous improvement, the Mphanda Nkuwa project was subject to an independent assessment using the Hydropower Environmental, Social and Governance (HESG) Gap Analysis Tool.

The assessment process consists of consultation with local communities, visual inspection of the site, and a rigorous audit of relevant documentation.

This two-day workshop provides an opportunity to share experiences on the assessment with the goal to improve decision-making processes, alignment with the expectations of financial institutions, and engagement with civil society.

The workshop will bring together several institutions such as the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME), Electricidade de Moçambique, Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa, Ministry of Land and Environment, ARA Centro Zambeze, Energy Companies of Southern Africa (SAPP), academic institutions, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups and the private sector.

This workshop comes after the delivery of a Certified User training in Mozambique by IHA Sustainability in October 2021 to governmental and non-governmental institutions, international financial institutions and stakeholders in the Mphanda Nkuwa project.

This capacity building programme is funded by Norad and the project assessment is financially supported by the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Both are in partnership with IHA, which provides technical capacity building and training for GMNK, MIREME, Government of Mozambique entities, financing of the Environmental Social and Governance accreditation process, and contracting of an independent consultant to assess the hydropower project.

About Mphanda Nkuwa
With an estimated cost of US$4.5 million, the Mphanda Nkuwa hydropower project includes the development of a run-of-river dam, located 61 km downstream from Cahora Bassa, on the Zambezi River, in the province of Tete.

A hydropower plant with an installed capacity to produce energy of up to 1,500 Megawatts and a 1,300-kilometre power transmission line from Tete to Maputo.

The project is being implemented in strict compliance with internationally accepted global standards and tools for social, environmental and governance (ESG) to mitigate negative impacts and maximise positive aspects, evaluation and certification of the project, which favor the creation of opportunities for local communities, minimise and mitigate the adverse impact on the biodiversity heritage.

The project will be a lower cost option for power generation.

It will position Mozambique as a regional energy hub, contribute to universal access and industrialisation, job creation and technical training, taxes and revenue from concession fees.

The Mphanda Nkuwa project will play a fundamental role in the energy transition and decarbonisation in Southern Africa.

About IHA
The International Hydropower Association is an international not-for-profit organisation and membership association representing the global hydropower sector.

IHA has over 90 members – including the world’s leading hydropower developers, operators and manufacturers – operating in more than 120 countries.

IHA also partners with international organisations, research institutions, governments and civil society.

The association’s mission is to promote sustainable hydropower by building and sharing knowledge about its role in renewable energy, freshwater management and climate change solutions.

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