The electrification initiative aims to extend its reach to over 1 million individuals residing in 60 communes spread across the provinces of Malanje, Bié, Moxico, Lunda-Norte, and Lunda-Sul. On Wednesday, November 15th, a momentous occasion unfolded in Cafunfo, Cuango Municipality, as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rural Electrification Project of Lunda-Norte province took place. Presiding over the event was the Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, accompanied by Provincial Governor Deolinda Vilarinho, as well as ambassadors from Portugal, Francisco Alegre, and Germany, Stefan Traumann, alongside officials from the energy sector, including DNEER, PRODEL, and ENDE.
Representatives from companies involved endorsed the project by signing the Consignment Document. PRODEL, acting on behalf of the Angolan Government, will supervise the project, while the Portuguese group MCA assumes the role of the primary contractor.
During the ceremony, the minister underscored the project’s pivotal role in the nation’s electrification advancement, echoing President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s commitment to realizing set objectives, thereby ensuring wider access to clean and affordable energy, even in remote regions, for Angolan families. The ultimate aim is to achieve approximately 70% reliance on renewable energies within the national energy matrix by 2027, thereby enhancing the quality of life for Angolans currently deprived of access to the public power grid.
In Lunda-Norte province alone, the project is set to benefit 74,368 families across 15 communes. In Cafunfo, where the project was officially inaugurated, 29,150 household connections featuring pre-paid systems will be established. Additionally, a photovoltaic park comprising 72,000 panels will be constructed, capable of generating 41.4 megawatts and storing 111.45 MW in batteries for nocturnal usage.
With a valuation of 1.027 billion euros, the Cafunfo photovoltaic park is slated for completion over three years. Angola, with its annual solar radiation averaging between 1,370 and 2,100 kWh/m²/year, presents an ideal environment for solar energy utilization. Photovoltaic technology, noted for its swift installation (under a year) and minimal maintenance costs, stands out as the most suitable means of harnessing this energy.
The project enjoys support from strategic partners and secured financing of 1.2 billion euros from the German company Euler Hermes. It forms a crucial component of the Angola 2025 Plan, geared towards delivering clean energy to both urban and rural areas, expanding the national power grid, and establishing photovoltaic parks, thereby positioning Angola as a prosperous and modern nation with enhanced integration into the global and regional economy.
Furthermore, the Angolan government is committed to making a positive environmental impact by curbing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 4.2 to 8.0 million tons of CO2. Lastly, João Baptista Borges urged the local populace to safeguard public assets and report incidents of vandalism, which have regrettably occurred in various parts of the country.
