Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa

Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) is a Mozambican hydropower generation company. Structured as a private corporation with a minority participation by the Mozambican state, it holds the concession for the operation and maintenance of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Complex.

HCB engages in the production, transport and commercialisation of electricity, including import and export. It is the largest independent power producer in Southern Africa, accounting for the majority of electricity produced in Mozambique, and supplying power to South Africa, Zimbabwe and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Complex comprises: 

• The Cahora Bassa dam
• The hydroelectric power station 
• The energy conversion and high-voltage transmission systems

The Cahora Bassa dam is located in Tete province on the Zambezi River. Its associated power station comprises five generator sets with 415-MW turbines for a combined generation capacity of 2,075 MW. 

The station is linked to the Sogo and Apollo converter stations, located in Mozambique and South Africa, respectively, with infrastructure jointly owned by HCB and South African public utility Eskom. The transmission system is deployed along 1,400 kilometres, of which 900 kilometres are in Mozambican territory. ECB also operates and maintains the 400-kV transmission line connecting Sogo to Bindura, in Zimbabwe.

HCB’ annual production is about 15,000 GWh. The company has long-term offtake agreements with Electricidade de Mocambique, Eskom and Zimbabwe’s Zesa, with the largest share of production committed to Eskom. Electricity not absorbed by these contracts is sold under subordinate arrangements with utilities or placed in the SAPP.