Cahora Bassa South Bank Hydropower Project
Project details
Project name: Cahora Bassa South Bank Hydropower Project
Project location: Tete Province, Mozambique
Installed capacity: 2 075 MW
Project owner: Hidroelétrica de Cahora Bassa
HSS Assessment
Assessment tool: Hydropower Sustainability Standard
Assessment stage: Operation
Assessment date: 6 - 14 May 2025
HSS Assessment Report:
Gap Resolution Report
Public Consultation Form
Assessor Team
Sustainability assessment overview
The Cahora Bassa Hydropower Project was first assessed in 2018 using the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP). The 2025 assessment under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS) reviewed the project’s environmental, social and governance performance and identified progress since the earlier assessment, particularly in climate change management, biodiversity planning and governance policies.
The project demonstrates good performance in several areas, including worker health and safety, water quality monitoring, hydrological management and stakeholder engagement. Monitoring indicates stable water quality and limited sedimentation in the reservoir. The project also provides community benefits such as access to water, electricity and health services.
The assessment also identified areas for improvement, including strengthening the integration of environmental and social management systems, improving emergency preparedness planning, enhancing biodiversity monitoring, and further integrating risk and compliance management across the organisation.
The public consultation period on the Preliminary Assessment Report of the Cahora Bassa Hydropower Project is open from 9 March to 7 May 2026.
Submit your comments in English or Portuguese.
Evidence of the distribution of the assessment report to provide comments is available here.
