Mozambique and Swaziland sign MoU on energy

The governments of Mozambique and Swaziland signed a memorandum of understanding in Maputo on Thursday, with a view to stepping up cooperation in the areas of mineral resources, energy and water resources.The memorandum was signed by the Mozambican Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Pedro Couto and by his Swazi counterpart, Jabulile Mashwama, following talks between delegations from the two countries headed by President Filipe Nyusi, and the Swazi monarch, King Mswati III, who is on a three day state visit to Mozambique.Mozambican Foreign Minister Oldemiro Baloi told reporters that, during the talks, the delegations analysed all the areas of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in transport.“Swaziland was informed of the road and rail transport situation, and the current stage of the Mozambican ports, particularly the Maputo port sugar terminal, bearing in mind that Swaziland is landlocked and needs these facilities for its exports and imports”, he said.Baloi stressed that there are a large number of transport projects in which Mozambique wishes to cooperate with Swaziland, and there are challenges concerning road fees and insurance.One of the points in the memorandum is that Mozambique will increase the amount of electricity that it sells to Swaziland. Baloi said this seeks to ensure Swazi access to diversified sources of energy, including hydropower, and energy generated from natural gas.On Friday, Mswati and his delegation are due to visit the gas fired power station operated by the company Gigawatt-Mozambique, at Ressano Garcia, on the border with South Africa. The Swazi delegation hopes to discuss the possibility of selling power from this station to Swaziland.Swazi Foreign Minister Mgwangwa Gamedze said that the meeting also discussed agriculture, food security, and the need to step up the fight against threats such as foot and mouth disease, and the fruit fly.As for health care, Gamedze noted that there is already an agreement between the two countries for the exchange of health professionals, and to send Swazi students to Mozambican medical faculties.