A solar power plant with the capacity to generate 100 Megawatts of energy is projected for the locality of Chimuara, in the district of Mopeia, Zambézia province. It is believed that the materialization of this project may increase the availability of electric current in the national public network.
The infrastructure, which will be implemented in an area of 250 hectares, is estimated to cost more than 150 million US dollars, and will be the largest photovoltaic plant in the country.
The president of SANMOZ, the company that was awarded the contract, says that the energy to be produced in the solar plant will be injected into the national grid, which will strengthen the energy capacity available to meet the demand of socio-economic projects that may arise in the central and northern regions of the country.
According to Alberto Covelo, the beginning of the works is very dependent on the resettlement process of the families covered by the project route of the largest solar plant in the country.
According to him, the resettlement is slightly delayed due to bureaucratic aspects that have been in process for about a year.
He assured that all aspects pertaining to the resettlement law will be respected and construction will start after these bureaucratic issues are overcome.
The energy to be produced at the Chimuara solar plant will be injected into the substation under construction, which should feed the central and northern regions of the country. The first stone for the construction of the referred substation was laid recently, by the President of the Republic.
Alberto Covelo also said that the country and the world are in constant evolution, hence the need for diversification of clean energy sources to stimulate social and economic development and preserve the environment. The source admitted, therefore, that in the future the capacity to generate 100 megawatts may be increased.
The community consultation aimed at building the infrastructure was concluded last week in the locality of Chimuara, involving the company that was awarded the work, community leaders and the local population.
Information in our possession indicates that, in total, sixty families will be resettled to make way for the construction of the photovoltaic power plant in Chimuara.
This will be the second solar plant that Zambezia province will have, the first being located in the district of Mocuba, with a generating capacity of 40 megawatts.
Meanwhile, in Chimuara, some citizens who participated in the community consultation agree with the terms of resettlement and say that the solar power plant project is welcome since improved houses will be built and with access to electricity to improve their quality of life.
Jacinto Manuel said when approached by our Report about the benefits of this project that in addition to the resettlement in better conditions of the families, those affected will have access to energy for the conservation of their products, which can also open space for employment and income diversification.
“During the works, many people may come to sell products to the plant’s workers, and the creation of jobs for the local population is also planned,” said our interviewee, for whom there is a lot of expectation, and therefore we ask that the project starts as soon as possible.
For her part, Maria Rosa, says that the Chimuara photovoltaic plant project may contribute to the improvement of social and economic conditions of many families.
