Countries plug into power deal

Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa signed an agreement on Wednesday to connect their electricity supplies as part of a “broader strategy” of cooperation between the three countries, news reports said. MOTRACO, the joint venture company formed by South Africa’s Eskom, Electricidade de Mozambique and Swaziland Electricity board, will pipe electricity to the US $1.3 billion Mozal aluminium smelter in Mozambique. “This agreement is part of a much broader strategy to enhance cooperation between our countries and the SADC region in general,” South Africa Mineral Resources Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was quoted as saying. The minister, described the deal as “another building block in a much better plan”.