Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower Project is a planned $6 billion hydroelectric development on the Zambezi River in Mozambique, set to become Southern Africa’s largest hydropower plant in the past 50 years. Mozambique has secured support from the World Bank, which has committed to provide debt and equity financing, as well as risk guarantees and insurance, for the project. In addition, the Bank will back a related $1.4 billion power transmission initiative to strengthen regional energy infrastructure. According to World Bank President Ajay Banga, the project represents a landmark investment aimed at boosting Mozambique’s energy capacity and advancing sustainable development across Southern Africa.
Located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) downstream from the larger Cahora Bassa dam on the Zambezi River, the Mphanda Nkuwa plant is projected to deliver 1,500 megawatts of electricity once operations commence in 2031. This added capacity is expected to play a critical role in easing Southern Africa’s current 10,000-megawatt power deficit, which has left millions of people without reliable access to electricity. The Cahora Bassa dam will also be undergoing rehabiliation to further buttress the country’s power deficit.
Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower Project Factsheet
Project name: Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower Project
Location: Zambezi River, Tete Province.
Project type: Run-of-the-river hydroelectric facility.
Cost: $5 billion
Capacity: 1,500MW
Key components:
- Dam: it will be a 700m-long and 86m-high concrete gravity dam. Also, it will have a total of 13 flood gates.
- Reservoir: A 100km² reservoir will extend over 60km on the Zambezi River and approximately 18km on the Luia River.
- Powerhouse: the hydropower project will have a powerhouse that will be equipped with four Francis turbine units of 365MW each.
- Transmission line: A high-voltage transmission line stretching between 1,300 and 1,400 kilometers. The transmission line will connect Tete province in central Mozambique to the capital, Maputo, in the south.
Expected commissioning date: 2031
Capacity
The hydropower project is expected to have a capacity of 1,500 megawatts. Furthermore, it is scheduled to commence operations by 2031. The dam project will be supported by a $1.4 billion power transmission project.
The objective of this project is to deliver electricity connections to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Also, it is expected to considerably boost electricity access in an area where more than 80% of the world’s 680 million people without the energy source dwell.
“We want to be the hub of energy in our region, which is the Southern African Development Community,” Mozambique’s president stated.
Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower Project Developers
Mphanda Nkuwa is being developed through a joint partnership between the Electricité de France SA, TotalEnergies SE, and Sumitomo Corp.
As for the Mozambican government and its Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa firm, they will own holdings.
Mozambique Rising to be a Major Energy Hub in the Region
Lastly, it is quite clear that Mozambique is rising to be a major power hub in the region. This is evident through the ambitious projects that the country is undertaking including TotalEnergies $20 billion LNG project and the Cahora Bassa rehabilitation project that was recently awarded to ANDRITZ. With the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower Project, this project will reinstate Mozambique’s title as a leading energy hub in the southern Africa region.
Also read: US Exim Bank Approves $4.7 Billion for Mozambique LNG Project
