- Eskom, South Africa’s beleaguered power utility, is in talks with Electricidade de Mocambique (EDM) to purchase electricity from a 415 MW Karpowership floating power plant located offshore Mozambique, as the country struggles with ongoing power shortages and blackouts.
- The Maputo-based Karpowership facility, which will burn low-sulfur oil, is expected to receive environmental approval in June and begin operations in October, addressing the region’s worsening power deficit.
- The potential off-take agreement may face opposition from environmentalists, who have previously delayed Karpowership’s plans in South Africa over concerns about the impact on marine life.
South African power utility Eskom is actively considering the procurement of electricity from a Karpowership floating power plant to be located offshore Mozambique. This development follows Eskom’s decision not to sign agreements for power procurement from facilities that the Turkish company intended to moor off the coast of South Africa.
Eskom, which provides nearly all of South Africa’s electricity, has struggled to meet demand, resulting in rotational blackouts lasting 10 hours or more per day. The South African government aims to purchase 1,000 MW of electricity from neighboring countries, many of which are also experiencing power outages.
To address these power shortages, Eskom is in discussions with Electricidade de Mocambique (EDM) to buy the output from a 415 MW Karpowership power station. This facility will be mounted on a ship stationed in Maputo Bay and will utilize low-sulfur oil as fuel.
According to the state-owned Mozambican company, “Discussions with Eskom, as one of the potential offtakers, are ongoing and an offer has been submitted for their internal review.” They added that the final off-taker is likely to be the export market due to the worsening power deficit in some countries in the region, including South Africa.
In response to queries, Eskom stated, “Eskom will be undertaking a fair and transparent process to acquire,” the power. However, they did not specifically address whether they plan to tap output from the Karpowership facility. They continued, “A procurement strategy is being developed,” and acknowledged receipt of unsolicited offers.
The Maputo plant, in addition to a smaller Karpowership facility off Nacala in northern Mozambique, is expected to receive environmental approval in June and commence operations in October, according to EDM. Karpowership has confirmed the October target.
A potential off-take agreement with Karpowership may face opposition from environmentalists, who have previously delayed the company’s plans for gas-fired plants on ships in South Africa by filing objections over possible impacts on marine life.
In 2021, Karpowership won a tender to supply 1,220 MW of power to South Africa. However, environmental objections, a lawsuit, and Eskom’s demand for indemnity against any adverse outcomes stemming from corruption allegations have stalled the deal. Karpowership has deemed Eskom’s demand as irregular and denied any wrongdoing.
