Electrification is poised to benefit more than 1 million people across 60 communities in the provinces of Malanje, Bié, Moxico, Lunda-Norte, and Lunda-Sul. The consignment ceremony and commencement 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, accompanied by 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 affirmed by the participating companies, with PRODEL overseeing the project on behalf of the Angolan government, while Portugal’s MCA Group assumes the primary contractor role. Throughout the ceremony, the minister emphasized the significant progress made in electrifying the nation, underscoring President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s commitment to providing clean and affordable energy to more Angolan families by 2027, targeting around 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. A photovoltaic park comprising 72,000 panels will be constructed, capable of generating 41.4 megawatts, with additional battery storage of 111.45 MW for nighttime 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, make photovoltaic technology the preferred choice for harnessing this resource, given its swift installation and low maintenance costs. The project has secured financing of 1.2 billion euros from Germany’s Euler Hermes.
Aligned with the Angola 2025 Plan, the endeavor aims to provide clean electricity to both urban and rural areas, driving Angola towards prosperity and modernization. The Angolan government aims to reduce 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.
