Mozambique sets to receive $80mn from World Bank to increase electricity access

The World Bank has approved a grant of USD 80 million to support the energy sector in Mozambique. This is a government initiative to augment access to electricity by all families in the South African country.

Titled ‘Energy for All Project’, the loan is part of a package of about USD 200 million that would be disbursed by the World Bank in 2019. The grant agreement was signed in Maputo late on Wednesday by Mozambican Economy and Finance Minister, Adriano Maleiane and World Bank country director for Mozambique, Mark Lundell.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mozambique’s Energy Minister Max Tonela said the World Bank funding is expected to benefit more than two million Mozambicans and would allow an increase in electricity connections from 300,000 households to 450,000 households by the end of 2019.

Currently, only 30 percent of the country's population has access to electricity. "This is a social project aimed at bringing energy to all Mozambicans," Tonela said.

The Energy for All Project was launched by President Filipe Nyusi early this year.

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