Minister of Energy and Water
Minister João Baptista Borges, who was born on January 4, 1964, in Ingombota, a municipality within the metropolitan area of the province of Luanda, is a distinguished Angolan academic and politician. He currently resides in Maianga, Luanda, and is the son of Armando Borges and Maria da Conceição de Castro Paiva. Borges has held the position of Minister of Energy and Water since 2011, serving under Presidents José Eduardo dos Santos and João Lourenço. Additionally, he has been a member of the Political Bureau of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) since June 17, 1998. Fluent in English, French, and Spanish, he possesses multilingual capabilities.
Education and Training
João Baptista Borges completed an Intermediate Course in Electricity at the Makarenko Polytechnic Institute in 1983. Subsequently, in 1991, he obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering from the esteemed Agostinho Neto University. Continuing his academic journey, he pursued a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal, in 2011.
Professional Journey
Following his graduation in 1991, João Baptista embarked on a career in the civil service as a trainee mechanical engineer at ENE/North Regional Directorate until 1992. His passion for teaching and exceptional academic background led to his appointment as a professor at the Faculty of Engineering at Agostinho Neto University. Concurrently, he held various positions, including Head of the MV/LV Distribution Network Rehabilitation Project at Luanda EDEL EP from 1991 to 1993. In 1999, he assumed the role of Deputy General Manager of the Investment Area at EDEL EP until 2000, when he became Administrator and Deputy General Manager of the Technical Area at EDEL EP. His tenure as Chairman of the Board of EDEL EP commenced in 2002 and lasted until 2008, after which he was appointed Deputy Minister of Energy due to his outstanding merits and capabilities.
Governmental Experience
Given his exceptional track record as an engineer and politician, João Baptista Borges was appointed Deputy Minister of Energy in 2008, a position he held until 2010. He was then promoted to Secretary of State for Energy until 2011 when he assumed the role of Minister of Energy and Water, which he continues to hold.
He actively participated in the inauguration of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) in the Municipality of Viana, Luanda. This center’s mission is to coordinate renewable energy and energy efficiency policies within ECCAS and promote an integrated and inclusive market for related products and services in the region. Supported by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the RCREEE plays a crucial role in advancing these areas.
During his tenure as Minister, he undertook the responsibility of restructuring the state’s business sector, developing the legal and regulatory framework of the sector, and defining the Energy and Water Plan 2012-2017. As Secretary of State for Energy, he coordinated the preparation of the National Energy Security Plan and served as the coordinator of the Program for Strengthening Generation Capacity across the country. Additionally, as Deputy Minister, he led the coordination of the program to enhance power generation capacity for Luanda (300 MW).
During his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Directors of EDEL from 2008 to 2010, Minister Borges undertook the task of organizing and implementing the restructuring of the entity. He also updated the Strategic Plan, resulting in the formalization of illegal consumers and the outsourcing of services in the peripheral areas of Luanda, which attracted 120,000 clients within a span of three years. Additionally, he expanded the coverage area of EDEL to include the province of Bengo.
As Administrator and Deputy General Manager for the Technical Area of EDEL, Minister Borges played a crucial role in developing the “EDEL Strategic Plan for 2002-2005.” He coordinated all operation and maintenance activities of EDEL, managed various aspects of the public electricity supply service, and represented EDEL in UPDEA (African Union of Electricity Producers and Distributors). He also facilitated agreements with other companies such as EDP, LIGHT, and EDF.
In his capacity as Deputy General Manager of the Investment Area of EDEL-EP, Minister Borges oversaw all infrastructure projects, coordinated the restructuring process of EDEL’s commercial area, introduced the commercial system (Pegasus), and managed the works area of EDEL, including the execution of network extension projects and client connections.
Since assuming his governmental role, Minister João Baptista Borges has actively participated in numerous international events, where he has shared his wisdom, experience, leadership, and commitment to addressing the crucial challenges of building a sustainable planet. Notable events include the 6th Annual Germany-Africa Energy Forum in Hamburg in April 2012, the Consultative Meeting on Water Supply and Sanitation Situation in Angola and Namibia in February 2012, and the International Conference and International Fair on Energy and Water in September 2012. He has also been involved in the High-Level Roundtable of the SADC Infrastructure Investment Summit in Maputo in June 2013, the Meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for the Water Sector in May 2013, and the Meeting of Ministers of ZANCOM and the Hydrographic Management of the Zambezi Basin, also in May 2013. Furthermore, he attended the International Conference on Hydraulic Technology in Israel in October 2013, the International High-Level Conference on Water Cooperation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in August 2013, and served as a member of the Angola Namibia Bilateral Commission in March 2014.
United Nations (UN) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
From his position as Minister of Energy of the Republic of Angola, João Baptista Borges has emerged as a dedicated advocate for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN) by 2030.
Energy Transition Dialogue •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
He actively participated in the 9th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue held in Germany on 28-29 March. During this event, Minister Borges delivered a remarkable speech highlighting the progress of renewable energy in Angola. He emphasized that Angola, under his leadership and guidance, aims to export green hydrogen in the form of ammonia by 2025, a significant achievement aligned with the country’s collective efforts.
Decarbonisation of Industry •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Minister Borges also contributed to the panel discussion on “Decarbonisation of Industry – Success Stories and Challenges of the Global Hydrogen Economy.” His active involvement in this session demonstrated his commitment and concern for climate goals and the secure supply of clean energy, particularly in socially just manners, especially for southern countries.
UN Water Conference •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
As the Minister of Energy and Water, Minister Borges led the Angolan delegation to the UN Water Conference held in New York City from 22-24 March 2023. Acting on behalf of President João Lourenço, he announced a substantial investment of over USD 4 billion for the 2023-2027 period to address the water situation in Angola, particularly in the southern region. His impactful words at the World Forum resonated with the attendees as he highlighted the challenges faced by regions in the south of Angola due to recurrent droughts and the resulting human and environmental consequences.
ESIAP and PDISA ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Minister João Baptista Borges also took part in a meeting of Water and Sanitation Ministers, organized alongside the UN Conference on Water – UN2023, at the invitation of the World Bank Group. During this gathering, he provided updates on ongoing projects funded by the World Bank and highlighted projects currently in progress, including the Electric Sector Access and Improvement Project (ESIAP), the Water Sector Institutional Development Project (PDISA), and the Bita project.
Strategic Vision of the Government ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Minister Borges played a pivotal role as the coordinator of the “White Paper,” which outlines the “Strategic Vision of the Government for the expansion of renewable energies.” He was also responsible for coordinating the drafting of the Ministry of Energy and Water’s statute. Additionally, he held the position of the National Liaison Office (NLO) of Angola to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), representing the country in this global organization dedicated to promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and preventing nuclear weapon proliferation.
