Mozambique launched a $200m gas-fired power plant in the southern Ressano Garcia region near the border with South Africa, adding 120 MW to the grid, Reuters reported. According to the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, the plant will improve access to electricity for domestic, agricultural, and industrial consumption, provide greater security of energy supply, and reduce dependence on external sources, wrote Star Africa.

The plant, owned by independent power producer Gigawatts, comprises of 13 generators powered by natural gas.

It is expected to provide power to the Southern African region under the Southern Africa Power Pool. In total, Mozambique has about 2,500 MW of installed generating capacity.

The southern African country is sitting on huge gas reserves and it is developing liquefied natural gas export projects, which are expected to bring tens of billions of dollars to the impoverished state.