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Mozambique has increased its energy access rate to 66.9%, with 57.9% of the population connected to the national electricity grid and approximately 9% relying on off-grid solutions, including household solar systems and mini-grids, the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced.
The figures were presented during the third edition of the Biannual Off-Grid Energy Forum, held in Maputo, which brought together more than 150 representatives from the Government, private sector, investors, development partners, academia and civil society.
Speaking at the event, National Director of Energy Marcelina Mataveia highlighted progress in expanding access to electricity but warned that significant challenges remain, particularly in rural areas.
According to Mataveia, accelerating rural electrification requires a planned and coordinated approach involving different stakeholders to expand access and help the country achieve universal electrification by 2030.
Among the initiatives presented at the forum was the proposed Integrated Electrification Platform of Mozambique, developed by the Integrated Electrification Planning and Coordination Unit (UIPCE). The platform aims to strengthen coordination and planning of electrification projects and is expected to be launched later this year.
To expand electricity access in rural areas, the Energy Fund (FUNAE) presented the National Programme for Accelerating Electrification through Mini-Grids (PROMIR), which envisages the installation of 363 mini-grids across the country at an estimated cost of 250 million US dollars, equivalent to 223.2 million euros.
Funding has already been secured for 148 mini-grids in the provinces of Nampula, Zambézia, Tete and Niassa.
Meanwhile, the president of the Mozambican Renewable Energy Association (AMER), Ricardo Pereira, stressed that the expansion of off-grid energy solutions must be accompanied by maintenance, technical support and proper equipment management throughout its service life.
Pereira also warned that nearly one million solar systems have already been sold in the country, many of which are approaching the end of their useful life. This presents growing challenges in managing equipment and batteries.
He further called for greater participation by domestic companies in the sector, highlighting their provincial presence and close ties with local communities as important factors in ensuring the implementation and long-term sustainability of electrification solutions.
The forum also addressed issues related to financing, regulation, mini-grids, household solar systems, clean cooking and electronic waste management, as Mozambique seeks to expand energy access and achieve universal electrification by 2030.
The Maputo Juvenile Court is scheduled to hear the case of a 13-year-old boy accused of killing his 12-year-old neighbour, known as Edy, in the Militar neighbourhood of Maputo, on Thursday, 15 October. Under Mozambican law, children under the age of 16 cannot be held criminally responsible, although they may be subject to educational and corrective measures.
Mozambique's National Communications Institute (INCM) has expressed concern over the growing number of companies and individuals providing parcel and correspondence delivery services without the required licences, at a time when only 38 postal operators are legally authorised to operate in the country.
South African jurist and human rights advocate Navi Pillay, 85, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, announced on Friday, 9 October, in Oslo, Norway, in recognition of her contributions to peace, international justice and accountability for serious human rights violations.
Annual shrimp catches in Mozambique's Sofala Bank have fallen by 40%, from approximately 2,500 to 1,500 tonnes, a decline that authorities link to illegal fishing, violations of the closed fishing season and the destruction of mangroves, all of which threaten the sustainability of fisheries resources in the region.
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Mozambique and Tanzania have agreed to strengthen defence and security cooperation by adopting joint strategies to combat terrorism, organised crime and other cross-border threats that pose risks to the stability of both countries.
The Rector of the Catholic University of Mozambique (UCM), Filipe Sungo, has called for measures to prevent deaths in artisanal gold mines, stressing that the country's mineral resources should generate wealth and promote development rather than be associated with the loss of human lives.
Consumer prices in Mozambique rose by 0.16% in September, ending two consecutive months of deflation, while year-on-year inflation slowed to 6.31%, according to data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
Mozambican political party the National Alliance for a Free and Autonomous Mozambique (Anamola) has expressed surprise at the Supreme Court’s decision to order the unblocking of Venâncio Mondlane’s bank accounts, as he remains accused of crimes related to the post-election protests of 2024.
