U.S. Embassy
Avenida Kenneth Kaunda,
193
Caixa Postal, 783
Maputo
MOZAMBIQUE
PRESS RELEASE
U.S. Government Lights Up 92 Health Facilities in Sofala Province with a $320,000 Investment in Solar Power
May 14, 2021 – In celebration of the International Day of Light, the U.S. Embassy announces the implementation of a $320,000 investment to provide electricity to 92 health facilities in Sofala province. The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Power Africa program awarded a grant to renewable energy company SolarWorks! Mozambique to install off-grid solar powered electrical systems in rural health facilities. With these new systems, the health facilities will have a consistent and sustainable clean energy supply and be better able to provide quality care to the estimated 138,000 Mozambicans they serve.
Efficient health services and responses to diseases — including COVID-19 — depend on reliable access to electricity. Health facilities require it to power essential medical and sterilization equipment, refrigerate medicines and vaccines, coordinate care and share information with other medical professionals. Yet, in Sofala province 90 percent of health facilities have no regular access to electricity.
In close coordination with the Sofala provincial health directorate, SolarWorks! Mozambique is installing systems for 92 healthcare facilities across the province for a total generating capacity of 55.2 kWp (kilowatt-peak) and storage capacity of 220.8 kWh (kilowatt-hours). With these new systems, each of the 92 healthcare facilities will have sufficient power to run key equipment like lighting, phone charging, vacuum aspirator, gynecological examination lamp, CD4 machine, microscope, and computer equipment. This means, for example, that if a woman goes into labor at night, the doctor assisting will have the light and equipment necessary to help safely deliver her baby. Having power for laptops, printers, and internet will also make medical data collection and sharing easier. The grant from USAID/Power Africa also covers operational and maintenance costs of the solar energy systems for one year.
U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique Dennis W. Hearne said, “The USAID/Power Africa award demonstrates what can be accomplished when the public and private sectors work together to address a problem. With a modest amount of funding from the U.S. Government, we are able to incentivize private sector engagement like this one, which will improve healthcare services for thousands in Sofala province.”
Increased access to energy supply and improved health infrastructure represent critical components of the broader U.S. Government assistance in Mozambique. In close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, the U.S. Government provides more than $500 million in annual assistance to improve the quality of education and healthcare, promote economic prosperity, and support the overall development of the nation.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) leads the U.S. Government’s international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises. For more information about USAIDs work to foster sustainable development and advance human dignity visit www.usaid.gov.
Power Africa is a U.S. Government-led partnership that harnesses the collective resources of over 170 public and private sector partners to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2013, Power Africa-supported projects have added more than 12,000 megawatts (MW) of cleaner and more reliable electricity and more than 20 million new power connections for homes and businesses. Power Africa’s goal is to add at least 30,000 MW and 60 million connections by 2030.
SolarWorks! is Mozambique’s largest off-grid renewable energy provider. The company’s vision is to provide high quality and affordable solar systems and products that change the lives of 1.5 million people by 2025. For more information visit www.solar-works.co.mz
For more information about this press release, please contact the U.S. Embassy Maputo Press Office at MaputoPress@state.gov.
