A ceremony took place on Friday in Pemba, Mozambique to celebrate the successful completion of the first phase of the Northern Mozambique Pilot Project along with the completion of the VidaGas LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) distribution plant. In attendance were Graça Machel, wife of Nelson Mandela and former Minister of Education for Mozambique and President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique. The presidential delegation included the Governor of Cabo Delgado Province, five ministers, four ambassadors and other local dignitaries.

Graça Machel made a powerful speech on behalf of VillageReach and local partner organization The Foundation for Community Development (FDC). The Vice Minister of Health and the President spoke on behalf of the Mozambique government. President Chissano, Graça Machel, the Governor of Cabo Delgado and the Vice Minister of Health for Mozambique planted four trees to represent the many trees that will be spared as a result of the conversion from biomass fuels to LPG.

VidaGas is a company formed by VillageReach in an effort to combine partnership-building and beneficial income-generating activities with the provision of essential services. The VidaGas plant will supply the Mozambique Ministry of Health with LPG to ensure that health facilities have a safe, efficient, non-toxic fuel to power refrigerators, lamps, sterilizers and other essential equipment. LPG will also be offered to businesses and households as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditionally used biomass fuels (wood, charcoal, dung). Profits from the sale of LPG will ensure the sustainability of VillageReach programs by offsetting the cost of its activities within Mozambique.