Mozambique’s solar energy production grew 6.4% in the first half of the year, to 52,576 megawatt-hours (MWh), increasing its weight in the national electricity mix, according to official data.
According to the mid-year execution report of the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mozambican solar plants increased production, considering the 49,422.23 MWh recorded in the same period in 2025, corresponding to an increase of 3,153 MWh.
Despite this progress, solar energy still carries a small share in the national electrical system, representing only 0.7% of the 8.06 million MWh produced in Mozambique in the first six months of this year.
The Mocuba solar plant, in the central province of Zambézia, remained the country’s main photovoltaic unit, accounting for 34,031 MWh up to June, about two-thirds of the national solar production.
It was followed by the Tetereane plant, in the province of Tete, with 17,807 MWh produced in the semester, while the smaller solar systems installed in Mavago, Muembe and Mecula, in Niassa province, recorded productions of less than 200 MWh each.
The data indicate that Mocuba increased production by 7% compared with the corresponding period, while Tetereane grew by 5.9%. In contrast, the small solar systems in Niassa recorded declines ranging from 9% to 25%, reflecting the limited scale of these infrastructures.
Solar production reached 45% of the 2026 annual target of 116,823 MWh by June.
Mozambique’s electricity grid remains largely dominated by hydroelectric power, responsible for 81.3% of national production in the first half, with 6.55 million MWh, followed by thermal production, with 1.45 million MWh and a share of 18%.
The growth of solar production comes in a context of strong government commitment to diversify energy sources and expand access to electricity, especially in remote areas.
Canadian company JCM Power announced at the end of August that it had been chosen to develop the 30 MW Manje solar photovoltaic plant in Tete, reinforcing Mozambique’s push to mobilize private investment to expand renewable energy production.
The award was announced by the company itself, which marked the initiative as its official entry into the Mozambican market, through the Renewable Energy Auctions Promotion Program (Proler), the first competitive mechanism for contracting photovoltaic solar projects implemented in the country.
According to JCM Power, the future plant, located in Tete province, central region of the country, should contribute to strengthening the production of clean energy and support the national objectives of expanding access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity. The company also stated that it intends to work in coordination with the Mozambican Government, EDM (Electricidade de Moçambique) and other local partners to realise the project.
The project was awarded through Proler, a program supported by the European Commission and the French Development Agency (AFD), created to promote private sector participation in renewable infrastructure development and increase the country’s energy generation capacity, which envisages the installation of around 120 MW of renewable capacity through competitive bidding.
The initiative dates back to 2022, when Mozambican authorities launched a pre-qualification process aimed at selecting private investors for the development of the Manje solar plants in Tete and Chimbunila in Niassa Province, both with a planned capacity of 30 MW. The chosen promoters were to secure financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the infrastructures.
In June, the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy launched a tender for the installation of a 30 MW solar plant in the Dondo district, Sofala Province, marking the resumption of the Proler program and reinforcing the strategy of relying on competitive bidding to attract private investors.
Meanwhile, the Nhamatanda Solar Plant project in Sofala Province is at the stage of public consultation, an investment estimated at 69 million dollars (59.5 million euros), promoted by EDM in partnership with the private company VBC. With a planned capacity of 45 MW, the facility is expected to occupy around 160 hectares and contribute to strengthening the National Electric Grid.
