The resumption of works on the Moamba-Major dam, in Moamba district, Maputo province, depends on new environmental and social impact studies being carried out, as well as on updating the resettlement action plan for the communities affected by the project.
According to the newspaper Notícias, the existing studies were carried out in 2012 and are now out of step with the reality on the ground, making it necessary to draw up new surveys before the works can proceed.
Construction of the dam has been halted since 2017, following the interruption of financing provided by the Government of Brazil. When work was suspended, only around 10% of the project had been completed.
With a projected capacity to store 250 million cubic metres of water, Moamba-Major is regarded as strategic infrastructure for strengthening water security and availability in the Maputo Metropolitan Region.
The dam is expected to increase the supply capacity for the cities of Maputo and Matola, as well as the towns of Boane and Marracuene, areas that currently depend mainly on water from the Corrumana and Pequenos Libombos dams.
Budgeted at around 572 million meticais, the infrastructure is seen as an important piece in reducing the pressure on current sources of supply and expanding water availability for the Greater Maputo Metropolitan Region.
