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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Mozambique to aid SA power crisis | Mozambique to aid SA power crisis |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Mozambique is to increase power supplies to South Africa to help it cope with severe electricity shortages. | Mozambique is to increase power supplies to South Africa to help it cope with severe electricity shortages. |
| More than 75% of the power generated from Mozambique's huge Cahora Bassa Dam is already sold to South Africa. | More than 75% of the power generated from Mozambique's huge Cahora Bassa Dam is already sold to South Africa. |
| A senior official from the company that runs the dam told the BBC that this will be increased next month thanks to a recent refurbishment of the facility. The move follows news that electricity prices in South Africa are set to rise by more than 50% to ease the crisis. | |
| The South African government said it backed the plans proposed by the state power company Eskom. | The South African government said it backed the plans proposed by the state power company Eskom. |
| The rise would help to offset higher fuel costs and fund major new projects to ease pressure on supplies, it said. | The rise would help to offset higher fuel costs and fund major new projects to ease pressure on supplies, it said. |
| A shortage of power caused a series of blackouts in January, forcing mines to suspend production for several days over safety concerns. | A shortage of power caused a series of blackouts in January, forcing mines to suspend production for several days over safety concerns. |
| The crisis has been blamed on years of under-investment by the government and rising demand. | The crisis has been blamed on years of under-investment by the government and rising demand. |
| New dam | New dam |
| The BBC's Jose Tembe in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, says the deal follows negotiations between the two governments which are in their final stages. | The BBC's Jose Tembe in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, says the deal follows negotiations between the two governments which are in their final stages. |
| Load shedding means regular power cuts in South Africa | Load shedding means regular power cuts in South Africa |
| Juliao Pondeca, from the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric company, says that because of a more than $60m refurbishment of the dam, it can now supply additional energy. | Juliao Pondeca, from the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric company, says that because of a more than $60m refurbishment of the dam, it can now supply additional energy. |
| At the moment much of Cahora Bassa's power-generating capacity of 2,075 megawatts is sold to its southern neighbour. | At the moment much of Cahora Bassa's power-generating capacity of 2,075 megawatts is sold to its southern neighbour. |
| Our correspondent says Eskom has also agreed to help with the building a new dam on the Zambezi River - the Mphanda Nkuwa Dam - 60km downstream from Cahora Bassa. | Our correspondent says Eskom has also agreed to help with the building a new dam on the Zambezi River - the Mphanda Nkuwa Dam - 60km downstream from Cahora Bassa. |
| Countries in the region import and export electricity from each other. | Countries in the region import and export electricity from each other. |
| However, earlier this year South Africa was forced to cut its supply to its neighbours because of shortages at home. | However, earlier this year South Africa was forced to cut its supply to its neighbours because of shortages at home. |