EDM recovered 12 tonnes of stolen copper and 80 radiators in Matola, with significant impact on electrical service. The police arrested the truck driver and owner, while the company faces ongoing theft challenges leading to substantial losses. EDM commits to preventive measures against theft, reinforcing the need for community collaboration.
The publicly-owned electricity company, Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), reported the recovery of approximately 12 tonnes of stolen copper and 80 radiators in Matola on Thursday. Meque Licenga, EDM’s Electrical Infrastructure supervisor, stated that this theft directly impacted thousands of customers by removing vital infrastructure from Transformer Stations and Distribution Lines. Such vandalism continues to pose major challenges for the company, affecting its operational capabilities and leading to unspecified financial losses.
Licenga informed that both the truck driver and the owner transporting the stolen materials have been arrested and are facing prosecution. He emphasized that EDM is committed to investing in preventive measures to mitigate the effects of theft, revealing that in 2024 alone, the company suffered losses of approximately 28 million meticais (around $438,000 USD). In 2021, the peak of such incidents led to losses amounting to 260 million meticais.
Licenga remarked, “Acts of vandalism delay the fulfillment of the goal of Universal Access to energy by 2030.” Hélder Juvêncio, police spokesperson in Matola, noted that routine inspections following public complaints enabled the successful seizure of the electrical equipment. 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.”
In summary, EDM’s ongoing struggles against copper theft highlight the critical challenges faced by public utilities in maintaining infrastructure and ensuring service delivery. The recovery of stolen materials underscores the need for enhanced enforcement and preventive measures. It is essential for the community to collaborate with authorities to combat vandalism and protect vital resources, aiming for Universal Access to energy by 2030.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
