State-run Mozambique power utility Electricidade de Mocambique says it will float an international tender to select a contractor to build the US$551-million high-voltage electricity transmission line between Temane in Inhambane province to the capital Maputo.
EDM administrator Carlos Yun told APA on Thursday that In addition to the 563-kilometre high-voltage power transmission line, the project would include construction of three substations, one each in Vilankulo (Inhambane province); Chibuto (Gaza province) and Matalane (Maputo province).
“The projects, estimated at $1.3 billion, will be supported by cooperation partners, namely the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, African Development and the Southern African Development,” Yun said.
He said other funding partners include the OPEC Fund and the government of Norway.
“We will soon launch an international tender to select a contractor,” Yun said.
The transmission line project is part of the natural gas-fired Temane Thermal Power Plant with capacity to produce 400 megawatts, the largest single project in the country after independence that is expected to cost about US$1.3 billion.
The official added that work on the transmission project is expected to start in June 2020, with the expectation that the line and substations would be operational by the end of 2023, at the same time as the Temane Thermal Power Station.
Once completed, the Temane plant is expected to contribute about 16 percent of Mozambique’s power generation capacity.
CM/jn/APA