EDM, the Mozambican electricity utility, has recovered 12 tonnes of stolen copper and 80 radiators in Matola, addressing ongoing infrastructure vandalism that affects thousands of customers. The arrests of involved individuals accompany EDM’s significant financial losses attributed to theft. Enhanced preventive measures and police inspections are underway to combat this issue and ensure energy access goals are met.
The Mozambican power utility, Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), has successfully recovered approximately 12 tonnes of copper and 80 radiators, which had been stolen from its facilities in the southern city of Matola. This action came as a response to ongoing issues regarding vandalism of electrical infrastructure, which has significantly hindered the company’s service delivery, affecting thousands of customers.
Meque Licenga, the EDM Electrical Infrastructure supervisor, indicated that these stolen copper cables were taken from Transformer Stations and Distribution Lines, leading to unspecified financial damages for the utility. He emphasized the impact of such thefts, noting, “These copper cables were removed from Transformer Stations (PTs) and Distribution Lines, directly affecting thousands of customers.”
The authorities have arrested both the truck driver and the truck owner involved in transporting the stolen materials, and they are currently facing prosecution. Licenga revealed that in 2024, EDM suffered losses of approximately 28 million meticais (about 438,000 dollars) due to thefts, with significant peaks in prior years.
Hélder Juvêncio, a spokesperson for the Matola police, remarked on the effective measures undertaken to recover the stolen equipment, attributing the successful seizure to routine inspections bolstered by public complaints. He stated, “We received complaints from EDM, which forced us to step up our enforcement work, culminating in the seizure of the lorry carrying copper destined for South Africa. “.
As part of EDM’s ongoing commitment to combat this issue, Licenga confirmed that the company will implement additional preventive measures aimed at reducing the frequency and impact of equipment theft, maintaining their goal of achieving Universal Access to electricity by 2030.
The recovery of stolen copper by EDM highlights the ongoing challenge of infrastructure vandalism in Mozambique. Despite the success of law enforcement in this instance, theft remains a considerable obstacle to the provision of electricity. Efforts to enhance preventive measures will be critical in safeguarding EDM’s operations and fulfilling its goals for increased energy access.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
