Mozambique plans 415MW floating gas power plant
A new gas-fired powership will operate for three years to cover delays in building the Temane power plant.
Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and Karpowership are proposing a 415MW floating power plant that will run on natural gas in Maputo Bay. This project replaces a heavy-fuel-oil scheme that was blocked in 2023 due to environmental concerns. The vessel is expected to operate for an initial three years, bridging a gap while the Temane power plant is being built.
The proposed plant would be located in the Espírito Santo estuary at the Port of Maputo, in Matola, Maputo province. Environmental campaigners, including Justiça Ambiental, had opposed the earlier heavy fuel oil plan, citing Mozambique’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions. EDM expects to receive an environmental licence in the first half of 2027.
Karpowership will fund the $20m investment, aiming to recover costs through export revenues within 12 months. Construction and mobilisation are estimated to take six to eight months, but a generation start date has not yet been confirmed. The gas pipeline and grid connections could potentially serve future powerships.
Why it mattersMozambique's energy supply will be supplemented by a new floating power plant while a larger project is completed.