Mozambican and South African power utilities, EDM and Eskom, will jointly construct a $1,3-billion power station in Mozambique  to boost power supply to SA ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

EDM said the power station to be built in Moamba, 60 kilometres north-west of Maputo, would produce between 610 and 680 megawatts. It will be fired by gas from Mozambique’s gas fields in Inhambane.

Eskom has been rationing electricity since January, a move that affected major industries and raised concerns over adequate power supply during the games.

Mozambique is one of the few countries in southern Africa with a surplus of power. The country’s major dam, the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric plant produces 2, 075 megawatts of electricity.

It currently provides 60% of its power to Eskom and 35% to Zesa, Zimbabwe’s power utility.