NRECA International, an affiliate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, has been awarded a contract with the government of Mozambique to create new standards for the design and construction of the country’s electric distribution infrastructure.
The NRECA International team will conduct a thorough review of existing electric grid design and construction standards for Electricidade de Mozambique (EDM), the national utility. The work will support the government’s goal of achieving universal access to electricity by 2030. Less than 30 percent of the Mozambican population has access to electricity.
In recommending new standards for electric distribution, the NRECA International team will propose modifications that can significantly reduce costs and improve reliability as EDM expands its electric distribution network. The standards will include design and specification for grid components and will serve to guide electric grid construction efforts throughout the nation. The six-month contract will result in the delivery of NRECA International’s recommendations to EDM by August.
“The high cost of distributing electricity and connecting homes and businesses is a significant barrier for many countries. This is an important step toward improving access to electricity across the country,” said Dan Waddle, NRECA International senior vice president. “Our evaluation of the existing distribution infrastructure will help identify possible improvements at a more affordable cost. We look forward to working with our colleagues at EDM and providing our recommendations later this year.”
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape. NRECA’s international affiliate—NRECA International – has worked in developing countries since 1962 and helped provide electricity to more than 160 million people in 44 countries.