Mozambican and South African energy utilities, EDM and Eskom, will jointly construct a $1.3-billion power station in Mozambique in a move to boost power supply to South Africa ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Eskom and EDM said here on Friday.

The Mozambican power utility said the project was discussed at a recent meeting between the power utilities held in Mozambique and attended by senior officials from both organizations.

The power station which would be fired by gas from Mozambique’s gas fields in Inhambane and would be built in Moamba, 60 km northwest of Maputo, would produce between 610 and 680 megawatts, EDM said.

South Africa has in recent months faced a power supply crisis, leading observers to question if the country would have enough supplies to service the World Cup in two years.

Mozambique is one of the few countries in southern Africa with a surplus of power.

Source African Press Agency