Electrification is poised to reach over 1 million individuals across 60 communities in the provinces of Malanje, Bié, Moxico, Lunda-Norte, and Lunda-Sul. The consignment ceremony and inauguration of the initial phase of the Rural Electrification Project in Lunda-Norte province occurred on Wednesday, November 15, in Cafunfo, Cuango municipality. This event was overseen by Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, alongside Provincial Governor Deolinda Vilarinho, Portugal’s ambassador Francisco Alegre, Germany’s ambassador Stefan Traumann, and energy sector authorities, including DNEER, PRODEL, and ENDE.
The contractual agreement was endorsed by the participating companies, with PRODEL supervising the project on behalf of the Angolan government, while Portugal’s MCA Group assumes the leading contractor role. Throughout the ceremony, the minister underscored the notable advancements in electrifying the nation, emphasizing President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s commitment to providing clean and affordable energy to more Angolan families by 2027, aiming for approximately 70% renewable sources in the national energy mix.
The initiative will benefit 74,368 families in 15 communities in Lunda Norte, with 29,150 prepaid home connections in Cafunfo. An array of 72,000 panels will be installed at a photovoltaic park, capable of generating 41.4 megawatts, with additional battery storage of 111.45 MW for nocturnal production. With a budget of 1.027914 billion euros, the Cafunfo photovoltaic park is slated for completion within three years.
Angola’s favorable solar energy conditions, with an average global radiation ranging from 1,370 to 2,100 kWh/m2/year, render photovoltaic technology the optimal choice for harnessing this resource, given its swift installation and minimal maintenance costs. The project has secured financing of 1.2 billion euros from Germany’s Euler Hermes.
In line with the Angola 2025 Plan, the endeavor aims to furnish clean electricity to both urban and rural areas, propelling Angola toward prosperity and modernization. The Angolan government endeavors to curtail greenhouse gas emissions by 4.2 to 8.0 million tons of CO2. Minister João Baptista Borges also urged the local populace to safeguard public assets and report incidents of vandalism.
