Nampula, Mozambique, Sept. 2, 2025 (Lusa) - Eletricidade de Moçambique has recorded losses of around 17 million meticais (€227,000) as a result of the theft and vandalisation of electrical transformers this year, with at least five people arrested in Nampula, the company announced on Tuesday.

 "Not only has the cable been cut, as happened in Namiteca, but we've also had vandalism and theft of the transformer oil used to cool the system. Once we've made the calculation, we're looking at approximately 17 million meticais [in losses]," said Cristiano Neves, operations director for Eletricidade de Moçambique (EDM) in Nampula, in the north of the country, during a press conference.

In 2025 alone, nine electrical transformers were sabotaged, mainly in the early hours of the morning, affecting several neighbourhoods in the city of Nampula, especially Namiteca, Namiebe and the Rex area.

"After the vandalism, we have to work to restore [the power supply] to the population, at that moment they are in a desperate situation, they are without power," Neves said.

The company asked the communities to collaborate in protecting the electrical infrastructure and called on the population to report any suspicions of theft of these electrical materials.

At the same press conference, the Republic of Mozambique Police (PRM) in Nampula announced the arrest of five individuals suspected of involvement in the theft of materials from the state-owned company.

"Five individuals have been arrested who have been involved in vandalising Transformer Stations belonging to EDM [Electricity of Mozambique] and stealing power connection wires," said the spokeswoman for the PRM in Nampula, Rosa Chaúque.

She added that the police are continuing their efforts to capture other suspects on the run and recover the stolen material.

PME/ADB // ADB.

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