According to a document from Eletricidade de Moçambique (EDM), the Temane Thermal Power Plant (CTT), located in Inhassoro district, Inhambane province, will commence commercial operations in January 2025.
Expected to be the largest gas-fired power station in Mozambique, the plant will generate 450 megawatts (MW) of electrical energy using natural gas reserves from Pande and Temane over a period of 25 years.
This capacity increase is projected to raise the country’s installed electricity production capacity by approximately 16%.
The construction of the Temane Power Plant began in March 2022, which includes the development of a transport line stretching 563 kilometers to the province of Maputo, with a budget exceeding $400 million (€373 million).
The total budget for the project is estimated at US$650 million (plus €606 million), according to data from Globeleq, a multinational with a majority stake in infrastructure.
In addition to utilizing natural gas, the plant will recycle steam generated from this resource to produce additional electrical energy, part of which will be supplied to EDM for distribution in the national market.
The surplus energy will be exported to the Southern African region, bolstering Mozambique’s position as a regional energy hub.
Despite encountering delays due to the contractor and the impact of tropical storm Filipo in March, EDM aims to proceed with the integration, verification, and testing of all plant machinery by June.
Recruitment and training of professionals to operate the Temane Thermal Power Plant are also underway, albeit with some delays, according to EDM.
Pedro Nguelume, executive administrator for business development at EDM, acknowledged the challenges in training human resources to operationalize CTT, stating, “All our skills and competence will be put to the test, but we still have the opportunity to make it work and manage the infrastructure responsibly, safeguarding EDM’s good name.”
In November, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Carlos Zacarias, highlighted that CTT will rely on natural gas supplied by a gas production plant being constructed by South African multinational Sasol in Inhassoro, over 70 kilometers from Maputo.
He emphasized that the plant’s 450 MW capacity will primarily serve Mozambique but also cater to other customers.
