- Electricity supplies in southern Mozambique, including Maputo, have dropped by a third due to protests disrupting key power plants.
- The shutdowns have also halted 300 megawatts of power exports to Zambia, exacerbating its energy crisis amid a severe drought.
- Violent protests, led by opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane, have resulted in at least 90 deaths and widespread damage to infrastructure.
Electricity supplies to Mozambique’s southern regions, including Maputo, have dropped by about a third following disruptions at two major power plants. The Ressano Garcia and Gigawatt plants generate power using natural gas supplied by Sasol.
Protests over the disputed October 9 elections caused the disruptions. Protesters gathered at the two plants, forcing authorities to shut them down. This led to a 250-megawatt reduction in power output, which Electricidade de Moçambique, the state-owned utility, expects to last indefinitely.
As a result, Mozambique has halted power exports to neighbouring Zambia. Zambia had imported 300 megawatts of electricity from Mozambique, but the shutdowns left Zesco, the state utility, with “indefinite unavailability of power exports.”
Zambia has faced a severe drought that severely reduced its hydropower generation, the primary source of electricity. Without power imports from Mozambique, Zambia’s electricity supply gap has grown. Zesco has responded by implementing emergency load management, resulting in further power cuts for residential customers.
The protests, led by opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, have escalated into violence. Police have killed at least 90 protesters, most of them during clashes. Hundreds more have suffered injuries, and authorities have arrested thousands.
Protesters have targeted key infrastructure, damaging courts, police stations, and ruling party offices. These violent demonstrations have disrupted life in Mozambique’s southern regions, and the ongoing political crisis continues to affect domestic and regional power supplies.
Electricity production at the affected plants is crucial in providing energy for Mozambique and neighbouring countries. The shutdowns have strained the national grid, struggling to meet domestic demand. The crisis has also worsened Zambia’s power situation, complicating energy challenges in the region.
The political unrest in Mozambique and its impact on the energy sector highlights the vulnerability of southern African countries to political instability and climate-related shocks. While efforts to resolve the dispute continue, the situation remains tense, with the potential for further escalation.