The Swedish government has provided five million dollars to Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) for power expansion in Vilanculos district, in the southern province of InhambaneThe Swedish Embassy announced this Wednesday.
With Sweden's contribution, "more than 100,000 families will have access to clean and reliable energy" in that district in southern Mozambique, the embassy said in a statement sent to the media.
"A stable, secure electricity infrastructure that is less vulnerable to climate change-related disasters is crucial for the electrification of Vilanculos, and this additional support from Sweden will help in that regard," Mette Sunnergren, Sweden's ambassador to Mozambique, said in the note.
According to the embassy, this is an additional support, which totals $44 million already provided by Sweden for the electrification of Vilanculos.
The new amount will serve for the rehabilitation of 14 kilometers of power line damaged by Cyclone Idai, which buffeted the country in 2019, causing EDM to lose revenue and consequently delay the process of power strengthening and expansion.
"Through this additional funding the number of new connections will increase from the current 6,750 to 10,000 connections, mostly in Vilanculos," the document concluded.
According to the latest data from EDM, electricity reaches 40% of the Mozambican population, with 36% receiving it from the national grid and about 4% through alternative sources.