The electrification initiative is set to impact over a million individuals residing in 60 communes spread across Malanje, Bié, Moxico, Lunda-Norte, and Lunda-Sul provinces. On Wednesday, November 15th, the ceremonial commencement and groundbreaking event for the Rural Electrification Project in Lunda-Norte province were held in Cafunfo, Cuango Municipality. Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, presided over the occasion, accompanied by Provincial Governor Deolinda Vilarinho and ambassadors from Portugal, Francisco Alegre, and Germany, Stefan Traumann, alongside energy sector dignitaries, including DNEER, PRODEL, and ENDE.
Representatives from the companies involved signed the Consignment Document. PRODEL, acting on behalf of the Angolan Government, will supervise and manage the project, while the Portuguese conglomerate MCA assumes the primary contractor role.
During the event, the minister underscored the project’s significance in advancing the country’s electrification efforts, underlining President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s commitment to realizing the established objectives, thereby ensuring more Angolan families, including those in remote regions, gain access to clean and affordable energy. The objective is to achieve a renewable energy share of approximately 70% in the national energy mix by 2027, thereby enhancing the quality of life for Angolans who still lack access to the public power grid.
In Lunda-Norte province alone, the project will positively impact 74,368 families across 15 communes. In Cafunfo, the project’s official launch site, 29,150 household connections with prepaid 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 an estimated value of 1.027 billion euros, the Cafunfo photovoltaic park is scheduled to be completed over a three-year period. Angola’s solar radiation levels, averaging between 1,370 and 2,100 kWh/m²/year, make it an ideal location for solar energy utilization. Photovoltaic technology is deemed optimal for harnessing this potential due to its swift installation (less than a year) and minimal maintenance costs.
The project has secured strategic partnerships and financing totaling 1.2 billion euros from the German company Euler Hermes. It forms an integral component of the Angola 2025 Plan, designed to extend clean energy access to both urban and rural areas, expand the national electricity grid, and establish photovoltaic parks, thereby positioning Angola as a prosperous and modern nation with enhanced global and regional economic integration.
Moreover, the Angolan government aims to make positive environmental contributions by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 4.2 to 8.0 million tons of CO2. Finally, João Baptista Borges urged local residents to safeguard public assets and report instances of vandalism, which have been reported in various parts of the country.
