Teams from the Embassy of Sweden, the KFW and the AFD visited Mavuzi and Chicamba Hydroelectric Power Plants to assess the damages caused by Cyclone Idai.
The Embassy of Sweden in Maputo in collaboration with the KFW and AFD, have been providing long-term support to Mozambique´s electricity provider, EDM, for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Mavuzi and Chicamba Hydroelectric Power Plants in the form of financial and technical assistance valued in over USD 35 million.
Both Hydro Power Plants were affected by cyclone IDAI that hit the central region of Mozambique in March 2019. The special task team sent by the Embassy of Sweden, KFW and AFD recently visited Mavuzi & Chicamba to get a detailed understanding of the damages caused by the cyclone.
The Mavuzi Hydropower station was the most affected and the one in Chicamba is currently not functioning, due to the inactiveness the of Mavuzi downstream. In addition, the floodgates have been maintained closed and dam water level has raised from an average of 618 meters to 620.8 since the cyclone hit the area, putting the safety of the bridge over the Dam at risk.
An emergency funding to restore Mavuzi Dam, the hydrometric house and the electric connection between the hydrometric house and the Power house is urgent and will soon be discussed by the Embassy of Sweden and its partner organizations in order to get a better understanding of what areas require additional funding for the emergency, medium term and reconstruction phases.
