Socio-economic and environmental transformation of African communities through renewable energy-phase 2: Maputu, Mozambique: fieldwork report

Abstract

The objectives of the study was to assess the state of renewable energy deployment in Mozambique and to analyse policy and regulatory environment for renewable energy in the country. Areas covered included government's renewable energy policies, programmes, strategies for the development and deployment of renewable energy projects, their distribution in the country and how these have transformed the lives of the communities. The study sought to contribute to the discourse of socio-economic benefits of renewable energy by highlighting how renewable energies can transform communities, thus contributing to the reduction of poverty and inequality. The growing recognition of renewable energy as alternative to fossil fuels provides several socio-economic benefits. Estimating how this influences the adoption and adaptation to renewable energy sources reflects that a spectrum of wide interrelated influences and benefits shall be considered. Information presented in this report was obtained through interviews conducted with the institutions involved in energy at the Maputo city and communities identified as using renewable energy. This was done in Machubo, Marracuene district and Mungazine, Matutuine district. Interviews with the community representatives were conducted using local languages, with interpretations provided by a hired professional interpreter.