NEW INSPECTION VESSEL FOR LAKE NIASSA

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Sunday inaugurated a new fisheries inspection vessel, baptized the “Ngolokolo”, on Lake Niassa.

Jose Ntaia, head of the inspection department in the Niassa Provincial Fisheries Directorate said that the “Ngolokolo” will make a major contribution to covering the entire 245 kilometre length of the lake on the Mozambican side. “We can now work in tranquility in covering the entire extent of the lake”, he said.

The new vessel joins three small patrol boats in protecting the lake from illegal fishing. An agreement on fishing disputes exists with Malawi, which owns two islands inside what is otherwise the Mozambican portion of the lake.

“What is being done is to promote debates and share information about the use of fisheries resources”, said Ntaia.

Nyusi also inaugurated a photo-voltaic power station in Mavago district which can generate 550 kilowatts of power. This station can supply electricity for about 1,000 households and several local social and economic undertakings.The energy generated by the station comes from 2,495 solar panels, and the power station is run by the National Energy Fund (FUNAE). Nyusi urged FUNAE and Mavago communities to coordinate with the district administration in order to adopt a management model which can bring benefits in terms of integrated development, and generate revenue which can gradually pay for the 13 million US dollars invested in building the station.

Nyusi told the Mavago residents who attended the inauguration ceremony that it had been possible to build the power station because of an environment of peace and tolerance.

 He urged his audience to continue cultivating that environment.

The power station was built with funds provided by the South Korean government, and is the third photo-voltaic power station to be established in Niassa. The others, financed by the Mozambican government, are in Muembe and Mecula districts.

The chairperson of the FUNAE board, Miquelina Menezes, said that Mavago station is the largest of the three in terms of generation capacity. The availability of electricity in Mavago could attract private investment in industries to exploit and process the precious stones known to exist in the district, as well as in agro-industry based on local production of maize, beans, oilseeds and vegetables.