According to the budget execution report from January to March, electricity production in six large solar parks in the country, and by other smaller power plants, amounted to 19,688 MegaWatts-hour (MWh) during this period, compared to 17,328 MWh in the first three months of 2023.

Despite the growth in production, solar parks only accounted for 0.4% of total production in Mozambique in the first quarter, which was led by hydroelectric power plants, with 84.6%, and essentially the Cahora-Bassa Hydroelectric Power Plant (82.2% of total electricity production until March).

Mozambique plans to move forward until 2030 with solar power plants in at least five locations in the country, estimating to introduce into the grid a capacity of 1,000 MW of electricity production, promising a "true solar revolution".

"Accelerating this type of project to a larger scale is the simplest way to solve Mozambique's strategic dilemma after 2030: having to choose between green energy for export or providing energy to industrial consumers", said the Energy Transition Strategy (ETS), Lusa reported in February.

Last year, Mozambique had projects for 125 MW solar power plants, with 80 MW already connected to the grid.

The Government admits that dependence on coal will continue in the coming decades, even with the implementation of the ETS.

The new strategy, which foresees investments of around 80 billion dollars (73 billion euros) until 2050, foresees that Mozambique will develop, in a first phase, until 2030, "at least" 1,000 MW of new solar photovoltaic capacity in Dondo, Lichinga, Manje, Cuamba, Zitundo and other locations "to be identified", and 200 to 500 MW of new onshore wind energy capacity, namely in Inhambane, Lagoa Pathi.

"Large industrial investors who need large amounts of green electricity should be encouraged, through a favourable business and regulatory environment, to develop large-scale solar and wind energy projects", the document adds.

Until 2050, the goal is to have at least 7.5 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity installed in Mozambique and up to 2.5 GW of wind energy capacity.

"To ensure price optimisation and accelerate the expansion of solar and wind capacity, the Government should base itself on the Renewable Energy Auction Programme in Mozambique", whose principles introduced "competition in the awarding of renewable energy contracts", the document states.

"The rapid growth of solar expansion in South Africa after the introduction of auctions is a regional example to follow", highlights the ETS, which also emphasises "long-term" initiatives.

"Continue to gradually develop the latest solar and wind generation potential to meet the growing demand for electricity. A true 'solar revolution' will be needed to meet Mozambique's growing consumption in a clean way", the document states.

The Mozambican president, Filipe Nyusi, promised at the UN climate summit (COP28), which took place in Dubai in December, that the ETS "not only puts Mozambique at the forefront of climate innovation, but also positions it as an attractive sustainable investment destination".

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