The 14th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) commenced on April 17, 2024, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Angola is serving as one of the vice-presidents alongside the Dominican Republic, Georgia, and Iraq, with Rwanda presiding over the event. Angola’s representation includes His Excellency João Baptista Borges, Minister of Energy and Water, and Júlio Maiato, Angola’s Ambassador to the UAE and Permanent Representative to IRENA.
The first day of the assembly featured a high-level plenary session focused on IRENA’s executive overview, which emphasized the goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity. Member states presented updates on their efforts to achieve renewable energy targets set by the organization’s 169 participating countries. Ambassador Júlio Maiato led the concluding session of the day in his capacity as Angola’s Permanent Representative.
Minister João Baptista Borges expressed pride in Angola’s selection as a vice-president and congratulated Rwanda for its leadership, as well as the other vice-presidents. He highlighted the severe challenges posed by climate change in Africa, including Angola’s struggles with drought, water scarcity, desertification, and inadequate infrastructure.
Borges outlined Angola’s progress in energy generation, noting an increase in capacity from 2.4 GW in 2015 to 6.2 GW in just eight years. The share of hydroelectric power in the energy mix has risen from 39% to nearly 60%, while reliance on thermal power has decreased from 61% to around 36% since 2015. This transformation is attributed to major investments, including the completion of the 2 GW Laúca Hydroelectric Plant and ongoing construction of the Caculo-Cabaça Hydroelectric Plant, expected to bring Angola’s capacity to 9 GW.
The minister also highlighted significant photovoltaic projects, such as the Biopio Plant (188.80 MW) and the Baía Farta Plant (96.70 MW), which collectively contribute approximately 4% of Angola’s public electricity supply. These projects have enabled the country to save 3 million tons of fossil fuel annually, cutting carbon emissions by around 9 million tons. The first phase of the Caraculo Photovoltaic Plant (25 MW) is underway, with plans to expand its capacity to 50 MW.
Angola’s electrification rate has reached 43%, while diesel consumption in thermal plants has been reduced by nearly 60%, from 1.36 billion liters in 2015 to 560 million liters in 2023. Despite these advancements, Borges acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly in expanding the energy transmission network to distribute the available 2 GW of energy. Plans are in progress to establish interconnections with neighboring countries, including Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to facilitate intra-African energy trade and monetize surplus energy.
The minister detailed ongoing energy sector reforms, including the implementation of new legal frameworks for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to operate in a competitive market, allowing them to sell energy to the public grid through Power Purchase Agreements. Borges also elaborated on the 2023-2027 Energy Sector Action Plan, aligned with Angola’s 2050 Long-Term Agenda. The plan aims to integrate 72% renewable energy into the national grid, including 1.2 GW of solar energy by 2027, and achieve a 50% electrification rate. These objectives will require approximately $12 billion in investment, with significant contributions anticipated from financial institutions and the private sector.
Angola is set to complete several new photovoltaic solar parks this year, adding 584.50 MW of solar capacity and incorporating 90 MW with 25 MWh of battery storage. Additionally, two major electrification projects are underway in the eastern and southern provinces, designed to provide electricity to over 6 million people across 132 localities. These projects primarily rely on solar systems with storage and associated distribution networks, significantly reducing construction timelines.
On the sidelines of the assembly, Minister Borges held bilateral discussions with the Minister of Infrastructure and Mineral Resources of São Tomé and Príncipe, sharing Angola’s experiences in leading the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). Meetings with financial institutions, including the IFC of the World Bank and the African Development Bank (ADB), focused on securing financing for sustainable energy initiatives and enhancing collaboration with IRENA. Borges also engaged with potential investors in renewable energy projects, particularly those targeting rural areas and private sector ventures. Investors showed strong interest in supporting Angola’s energy transition through knowledge transfer, technological innovations, and creative solutions.