Mozambique’s $6 Billion Hydro-Electic Ambition: A Blueprint for Energy Resilience
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Mozambique is advancing the 1,500 MW Mphanda Nkuwa Hydroelectric Project, positioning itself as a regional clean-energy hub. With funding commitments from the African Development Bank and EU, the project aims to supply power domestically and to Southern Africa through the South African Power Pool (SAPP) grid. Its success could cut national reliance on thermal imports and displace millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually.
However, climate adaptation and resettlement planning remain pivotal to ensuring community equity and long-term sustainability. As East and Southern Africa experience rapid industrial growth, hydropower’s integration with solar and grid storage will define regional energy independence.
From a strategic point of view, Mozambique’s mandate exemplifies Africa’s evolving balance between economic development and ecological stewardship – where water, technology, and governance converge to shape a cleaner continental energy future.
Honourable Mentions:
Shell Energy’s Renewable Expansion Across Africa
Shell Energy Corporation has unveiled solar and wind projects in Namibia, Kenya, and Morocco under its Africa Renewables Program. The initiative targets 2 GW of capacity by 2030, blending private investment with community off-grid access. Shell’s pivot reinforces the continent’s rising renewable competitiveness and signals multinationals’ accelerating role in the clean energy transition.
Cape Town’s Africa Energy Week Sets the Stage for Paris Deals
Key outcomes of the Africa Energy Week highlight that investors are reigniting their interest in Africa’s upstream oil & gas frontiers. Critical minerals now anchor the continent’s energy-transition strategy, driving value-chain localisation. Regional policy harmonisation and cross-border infrastructure emerged as catalysts for bankable projects. Looking ahead to the Invest in African Energy Forum 2026 in Paris, these themes frame a shift from dialogue to deal-making.
$127 Billion Put Down for South Africa’s Coal Phase Out Investment
The South African cabinet has approved the Integrated Resource Plan 2025 which outlines a major shift in its energy mix, planning for 11 GW of solar, 7.3 GW of wind, 6 GW of gas-to-power (GtP), and 5.2 GW of nuclear capacity by 2039. This substantial investment marks a critical step in the country's move away from its historical reliance on coal amidst great criticism.
