KARPOWER IN MOZAMBIQUE FLOATING THERMOELECTRIC POWER STATION PROJECT MAPUTO

A fact sheet by Natural Justice detailing the proposed Maputo Floating Thermoelectric Power Plant Project in Mozambique, developed by Karpower and Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM). The project involves a natural gas-powered floating station and associated infrastructure, raising significant environmental, social, and economic concerns.

• The Maputo Floating Thermoelectric Power Plant Project, developed by Turkish company Karpower and Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), aims to produce 415MW of energy from natural gas for at least 3 years. The infrastructure includes a floating power station in the Espírito Santo Estuary, a 4km power transmission line to a 275KV substation in Matola, and a 3km gas pipeline from the Maputo Thermal Power Station (CTM).
• The project poses significant risks to the biophysical environment of the Espírito Santo Estuary, specifically threatening mangroves, marshland, and seasonally flooded grassland. Potential impacts include water and soil pollution from waste discharges, the discharge of warmer water into the sea, and the displacement of wildlife, including two species of globally near threatened flamingos, dolphins, and sea turtles.
• Social impacts include restricted access to fishing areas for communities in Matola, Katembe, and Maputo city, potentially reducing income and livelihoods. While the project may create temporary jobs—estimated at 140 for Mozambicans and 30 for non-nationals during construction, and 35 Mozambican jobs during operation—it may also trigger social conflicts due to the influx of outside workers and loss of agricultural land.
• The use of natural gas is criticized as a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change through methane emissions, which are 80 times more polluting than CO2 in the near term. There are concerns that a long-term power purchase agreement could lock Mozambique into costly electricity and crowd out cheaper renewable alternatives like wind and solar.
• Karpower has a controversial international track record: in South Africa, three projects failed to proceed as of July 2024 due to environmental authorization issues and failure to reach financial close; in Guinea-Bissau, the capital Bissau lost power following a dispute over non-payment and 'unbalanced' contracts; and in Brazil, a court interrupted its license due to environmental impacts and allegations of 'environmental and energy racism'.
• Civil society organizations in Mozambique have challenged the project's classification and energy source. Originally proposed to use Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), the project was changed to natural gas in December 2023 following criticism. Activists argue the project should be upgraded to category A+ under Decree 54/2015 because it directly affects mangroves and wetlands.

APA

Natural Justice (2024). KARPOWER IN MOZAMBIQUE FLOATING THERMOELECTRIC POWER STATION PROJECT MAPUTO. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PAMPHLET_Karpower-in-Mozambique_Final.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. KARPOWER IN MOZAMBIQUE FLOATING THERMOELECTRIC POWER STATION PROJECT MAPUTO. 2024. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PAMPHLET_Karpower-in-Mozambique_Final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=KARPOWER IN MOZAMBIQUE FLOATING THERMOELECTRIC POWER STATION PROJECT MAPUTO |date=July 2024 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PAMPHLET_Karpower-in-Mozambique_Final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljustice2024karpower, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{KARPOWER IN MOZAMBIQUE FLOATING THERMOELECTRIC POWER STATION PROJECT MAPUTO}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PAMPHLET_Karpower-in-Mozambique_Final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }