The Cahora Bassa dam is still responsible for the vast majority of electricity produced in Mozambique, according to the latest government figures.

According to the latest energy report, around 80% of the energy generated in the country comes from hydroelectric power, which is almost exclusively produced in that reservoir.

The rest comes from thermal power stations and solar energy is growing, but it still has a residual value in the production mix - mainly feeding autonomous networks in villages far from the grid.

The data is part of the latest statistical report from the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (Mireme), which brings together data from 2020 and 2021, published on the website of the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Located on the Zambezi River in Tete province, the Cahora Bassa dam is majority state-owned and is the largest energy producer in southern Africa.

In total, electricity production in Mozambique in 2021 reached 18.6 million megawatt-hours (MWh), of which 60% was exported, mainly to South Africa.

South Africa receives 80% of Mozambique's electricity exports, followed by Zimbabwe (6%) and Essuatini (1%).

Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi are also among the energy export destinations, but with lower values.

The report also shows unequal access to electricity from the national grid, with the Maputo region registering an access rate of 91.7% and the remaining provinces below 67% - the worst records being Zambézia (19%), Cabo Delgado (22%) and Tete (22.1%). Several areas of these provinces use autonomous electricity generation networks.

The Energy Fund (FUNAE) has 76 photovoltaic systems throughout the country, benefiting 580 schools, 560 health centers and 74 administrative buildings, as well as economic enterprises.

The statistical report published by INE also provides a profile of the country's liquid fuel imports: diesel dominates the basket with around 70%, followed by gasoline with 25%, the rest being taken up by cooking gas and jet fuel. (Vision)