Mozambique | Cahora Bassa dam recovers after years of drought

Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), in Mozambique, has recovered the usable capacity of its reservoir to 56% following historical lows, allowing operational restrictions to be lifted. Energy production increased by 13%, reaching revenues of 226 million euros through June, the Mozambican state-owned enterprise reported today in a statement. The company notes that it produced 6,399.03 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) between January and June, a result representing a 13% growth compared to the first half of 2025 and exceeding the production target set for the period by approximately 10%.

HCB indicates that the result was achieved through a “holding and operation strategy based on careful management of water resources,” which allowed the company to “reconcile increased energy production with the recovery of Cahora Bassa Reservoir reserves, reinforcing operational sustainability and energy security.” The Cahora Bassa reservoir is the fourth largest in Africa, with a maximum length of 270 kilometers and 30 kilometers between shores, occupying 2,700 square kilometers with an average depth of 26 meters. Employing nearly 800 workers, it is one of the largest electricity producers in the Southern African region, supplying neighboring countries. The company attributes the recovery of the reservoir to “more favorable hydrological conditions observed in the Zambezi Basin, particularly within Cahora Bassa’s own catchment basin,” as well as “operational management, engineering, and maintenance measures implemented by the company.” In the first six months of the year, usable reservoir storage increased by approximately 35 percentage points, rising from nearly 20%—considered an all-time low—to a high of 56%, corresponding to a water level elevation of 316.22 meters.

According to HCB, this recovery “marks a significant shift following two consecutive hydrological years characterized by severe drought” and “creates conditions for a gradual lifting of operational restrictions in place since July 2024.” Financial results tracked operational performance, reaching 263 million dollars (226 million euros), with net income exceeding 115 million dollars (99 million euros). HCB further highlights that these results were achieved under a record of “zero workplace accidents” during the semester. Quoted in the statement, the chairman of HCB’s board of directors, Tomás Matola, affirmed that “these results demonstrate the company’s ability to respond to operational challenges while simultaneously preserving the sustainability of water resources.” “Producing more energy while recovering strategic reservoir reserves demonstrates HCB’s capacity to guarantee a reliable energy supply,” Matola added. Electricity production in Mozambique fell 25% in 2025, impacted by the water shortage in the HCB reservoir following the “worst rainfall record” in 43 years, according to official information previously reported by Lusa.