Mozambique: Government should invest in renewable energy

The National Federation of Agricultural Associations of Mozambique (FENAGRI) suggests investments that encourage the use of renewable energy to offset the costs of fossil fuels within the production chain. FENAGRI’s proposal arises in a context where, according to the President of the association, high fuel costs generate adverse impacts, compromising production in the agricultural sector. The suggestion was presented Wednesday (06) in Maputo province, southern Mozambique, by the president of FENAGRI, Miguel Cumaio, during a meeting that brought together the Secretary of State and members of agricultural associations operating locally.

Cumaio believes that Mozambique possesses natural conditions that allow for the sustainability of this resource. “We have all the conditions; we have sun, we have winds, practically all year round, so there is the possibility of exploring this energy, which is clean,” he said. He underlined that “investing in them is investing in the future, which can save many things.” “It is an initial investment, a bit steep, but once installed, it is practically at zero cost, excluding maintenance issues,” he stated.

In turn, the Secretary of State in Maputo Province, Henriques Bongence, who heard the proposal from the agricultural producers, spoke of positive examples in Maputo province. “I went to visit a gentleman who built a dam and a mini-power plant. He doesn’t need energy from Electricity of Mozambique (EDM); he even sells energy to EDM. The energy he produces even supplies the community, which also has water and a tourist center.”