Mozambique's 2075MW Cahora Bassa South Bank Hydropower Project Achieves HSS Silver Certification

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Mozambique's 2075MW Cahora Bassa South Bank hydropower project has been awarded silver certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS). Owned and operated by Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), the project is located on the Zambezi River in Tete Province, with an average annual generation exceeding 15,000GWh. Construction began in 1969, and commercial operations commenced in 1977.

Cahora Bassa is the second hydropower project in Africa to receive HSS certification, following Zambia's Ngonye Falls project, which was certified in 2024. Several other projects across the continent are currently advancing through the certification process.

This certification result stems from HCB's nearly decade-long efforts to continuously improve the project's sustainability performance. The project was first assessed in 2018 under the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (the precursor to HSS), which established a baseline and identified areas for improvement. Specific measures implemented following the assessment include: conducting climate resilience assessments and risk management plans, establishing a reservoir inflow forecasting system, conducting greenhouse gas emissions assessments using the G-res tool, and developing a new biodiversity management plan. HCB has also formalized support mechanisms for the adjacent Mágoè National Park.

A further assessment conducted in 2025 under HSS showed that Cahora Bassa's sustainability performance has improved to levels exceeding minimum certification requirements. The project performed particularly well in areas such as worker health and safety, water quality monitoring, hydrological management, climate change response, and stakeholder engagement. The assessment also identified areas for continued improvement, including greater integration of environmental and social management systems, expanded biodiversity monitoring coverage, and strengthened emergency preparedness. HCB stated that these improvement items have been incorporated into its sustainability action plan and are being implemented.

Nico Savaio, HCB's ESG and Integrated Management Systems Coordinator, commented on the transformation: "Overall, the biggest change is that sustainability management has evolved from a series of isolated actions into a more structured, integrated approach, supported by more robust systems, clearer priorities, and mechanisms for continuous improvement." He added that the certification result is recognition of the years of dedication by the entire HCB team.

João Costa, Executive Director of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA), noted that the certification demonstrates that older hydropower assets can also benchmark against current sustainability requirements. He stated that Cahora Bassa sends an important signal to the hydropower industry that projects built more than half a century ago can continue to improve and meet the sustainability expectations set today. HCB's open engagement with independent assessors, its actions based on assessment findings, and its integration of continuous improvement into project management also provide a reference for other operators.