JCM Power has secured the 30 MW Manje solar photovoltaic project in Tete Province, Mozambique. The project adds to Mozambique’s efforts to attract private investment to increase solar power generation and expand access to electricity.
JCM Power said it won the project through Mozambique’s Renewable Energy Auctions Promotion Programme, known as PROLER. The government launched the competitive procurement process in 2022, with Manje in Tete and a separate 30 MW solar project in Chimbunila, Niassa Province, included in the program. Through PROLER, independent power producers compete for projects and take responsibility for financing, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the solar plants.
The European Union supports PROLER through the Agence Française de Développement, or AFD. The program aims to develop about 120 MW of renewable energy through competitive tenders, including the Manje, Lichinga, and Dondo solar sites, alongside a wind project. AFD also supports project preparation, environmental and social assessments, and grid connections.
Mozambique needs projects like Manje as it works to expand electricity access. The country’s National Energy Compact, prepared under the Mission 300 initiative, reports that electricity access increased from 31% in 2018 to about 60% in 2024. The government aims to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, which will require more generation capacity as well as stronger transmission and distribution networks.
The National Energy Compact targets an increase in installed renewable energy capacity from 2,922 MW in 2024 to 6,073 MW by 2032. Solar PV capacity is expected to grow from 98 MW to 303 MW, while wind capacity is targeted to reach 245 MW from almost no installed capacity. Mozambique also aims to mobilize $8.698 billion in private investment in the energy sector by 2030.
Although the 30 MW Manje project is small compared with Mozambique’s wider energy targets, it could provide a practical test of whether competitive procurement can bring more private investment into solar power. If completed, its 30 MW capacity would represent about 10% of Mozambique’s 2032 solar capacity target. Its actual contribution to electricity supply will depend on how much power the plant generates, its grid connection, and its operating performance.
JCM Power already has experience developing solar projects in neighboring Malawi, including the 60 MW Salima Solar PV project and the 20 MW Golomoti Solar project. Salima began commercial operations in October 2021, while Golomoti combines solar generation with a 5 MW/10 MWh battery storage system. This experience could support JCM’s entry into Mozambique, where developers must consider grid capacity, transmission availability, electricity payments, foreign exchange, permits, and land requirements. PROLER aims to address some of these challenges, with AFD support helping prepare projects and reduce payment risks involving Electricidade de Moçambique, or EDM, the national utility.
Mozambique has also continued to strengthen the rules governing private investment in electricity generation. ARENE, the Energy Regulatory Authority, oversees electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and commercialization, while a 2026 regulation sets procedures for concessions covering electricity generation, storage, transmission, distribution, and related activities.
These rules will become increasingly important as Mozambique expands solar and other forms of electricity generation. The country has significant hydropower resources and is developing projects such as Mphanda Nkuwa, while natural gas remains part of its energy mix. At the same time, the government wants to increase electricity supply, expand renewable energy, and improve access for households, businesses, and industries.
Tete gives the Manje project an additional economic dimension because the province is one of Mozambique’s main mining regions. Reliable electricity can support mining operations, mineral processing, and businesses serving the industry. However, new solar generation will have a wider impact only if Mozambique can also expand its transmission and distribution networks and deliver electricity to areas where demand is growing.
Mozambique’s electricity generation resources and major demand centers are spread across different parts of the country, making grid infrastructure particularly important. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that domestic electricity demand is increasing, while the Southern African Development Community expects regional power demand to grow. This could create opportunities for Mozambique to use solar and other energy sources to meet domestic demand and support regional electricity trade.
The Manje award gives JCM Power an opportunity to expand its solar business into another Southern African market. The company has been working with EDM, ARENE, and other government institutions as it establishes its presence in Mozambique and has joined the Mozambican Renewable Energy Association. However, winning the project is only the first step. JCM still needs to reach financial closure, construct the plant, and bring it into commercial operation. The company has not yet disclosed the project’s investment value or construction timeline.
source:africasustainabilitymatters.com
African Energy Council