16 June 2011
Maputo — The Italian government is to finance the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Pungue River at Nhancangale, in the district of Barue, in the central Mozambican province of Manica.
The construction cost is budgeted at 39 million euros (about 55 million US dollars). The dam will generate electricity, irrigate fields and increase the capacity to supply water to the cities of Beira and Dondo in Sofala province.
According to the Maputo daily “Noticias”, the dam will be 30 metres high and 1,200 metres long. It will have the capacity to hold 190 million cubic metres of water in its reservoir and will provide water for irrigating 3,500 hectares of land in Inhazonia and Mafambisse.
According to the project director, Francisco Massangai, the dams reservoir will also be used in dry weather to supply water to Beira and Dondo.
Preparations are underway to begin construction, with the setting up of offices, recruitment of personnel and acquisition of materials.
Tenders have already begun to be launched as has the environmental impact assessment, which will determine if the enterprise is viable.
The funding of the project is part of the Italian government’s 60 million euro aid for improved sanitation in Mozambique, which includes drainage work in Maputo city.
AllAfrica – All the Time
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Italy to Finance Construction of Dam