Moz plans $100m dam upgrade
2009-03-11 21:59
Maputo - Mozambique's Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric (HCB), one of Africa's largest power suppliers, is preparing a $101.6m tender to upgrade its central substation, state media said on Tuesday.
HCB chief Paulo Muxanga said the government-controlled utility plans to begin the project this year, Noticias newspaper reported.
"The terms of reference have already been written and we are now in the final stages of preparing the competition," Muxanga said.
Muxanga declined to say how much the refurbishment would cost.
But Noticias, citing unnamed HCB sources, said the tender would be worth about $101.6m. About one quarter of the money has already been allocated in this year's budget, it added.
The Cahora Bassa dam was built by Portugal in the 1970s, when Mozambique was still under colonial rule.
HCB power lines and other infrastructure sustained severe damage during the 16-year civil war that followed Mozambique's independence in 1975.
Mozambique took over an 85% stake in HCB in 2007, and has been working to modernise the dam's infrastructure to keep up with surging demand in the region.
In addition to Mozambique, HCB supplies power to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, among other countries.