The 12th meeting of the Advisory Council of the Catholic Church “Dom Armando Amaral dos Santos,” organized by the Ministry of Energy and Water, transpired in Benguela province from September 27th to 28th. The central theme of the event was “Energy and Water: Advancing Expansion and Enhancing Service Quality.” During the inaugural address, Luís Manuel da Fonseca Nunes, the Governor of Benguela Province, conveyed gratitude for choosing the province as the venue and committed to collaborative endeavors to address the needs of the population. He particularly stressed the significance of initiating new investment projects for the region’s burgeoning industries.
João Baptista Borges, the Minister for Energy and Water, together with the Secretaries of State for Energy and Water, underscored the importance of collaboration and backing from the Benguela Provincial Government in realizing sector initiatives. Minister Borges highlighted the necessity to attract investments, foster public-private partnerships, optimize the market model, ensure suitable tariff structures, and ensure the sustainability of public enterprises. The Minister emphasized the critical role of improving revenue collection and reducing costs in this context.
The event aimed to assess the progress in implementing recommendations from the 11th Consultative Council and brought together professionals from the sector. Key focal points included a review of the Sector Action Plan 2018-2022 with the goal of enhancing access and service quality. Emphasis was placed on addressing the market model, tariff efficiency, and company sustainability to attract private investments and establish public-private partnerships. Additionally, the Sector’s Action Plan for 2023-2027 was presented.
Concurrent activities encompassed visits to the Biópio photovoltaic plant managed by PRODEL and the inauguration of ENDE’s Regional Dispatch Center in Lobito, Benguela province. Minister João Baptista Borges underscored the Dispatch Center’s importance in enhancing the efficiency of the National Electricity Distribution Company’s customer service, aligning with the Strategy for the Technological Evolution of Distribution Services.
During the ceremony, Minister Borges presented a three-wheeled motorcycle to José André, showcasing solidarity and providing urgent support for his physical disability. Certificates and gifts were distributed to participants. The event was attended by Vice-Governors from Benguela, Bié, Cunene, and Lunda Sul provinces, representatives from various ministries, central and dependent bodies, Boards of Directors of sector companies, Provincial Offices of Infrastructure and Technical Services, partners, local authorities, and virtual attendees via the Zoom platform, totaling 224 participants.
