The Solar Energy Production Plant is poised to benefit more than 51,023 residents of the Bailundo municipality in Huambo province. Within the framework of the Minister of Energy and Water’s tour to the southern regions of the country, an extensive itinerary is scheduled for today, December 12, encompassing the municipalities of Bailundo, Ecunha, and Huambo.
On Tuesday, December 12, the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant in Bailundo was conducted. This initiative, boasting a production capacity of 7,992 MWdc, is an integral part of the Angola 2025 Plan, devised by the Angolan government to bolster electrification rates through sustainable energy sources. The aim is to facilitate the transition of local households and businesses from irregular electricity derived from fossil fuels to more cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy sources.
The event was supervised by H.E. João Baptista Borges, Minister of Energy and Water, in the presence of Provincial Governor Notti Nolika, His Majesty the King of Bailundo, Chiongolola Chongonga, and senior officials from MINEA, the Energy Sector, DNEER, PRODEL, ENDE, and Local Government. The signing of the Consignment Note was carried out by representatives from PRODEL and MCA on behalf of the Angolan Government, with Pedro Eduardo Afonso, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PRODEL, presiding over the proceedings.
During the ceremony, the minister emphasized the priority given by President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to provide cleaner and more accessible energy to more Angolan families. The objective is to achieve approximately 70% renewable energy in the National Energy Matrix by 2027, thereby enhancing the quality of life for Angolans who are not yet connected to the national public grid.
The project, with a budget of EUR 20,271,445.00, is scheduled for completion by 2023, three years from the date of signing. It entails the installation of 15,600 panels, expected to create around 50 direct job opportunities and save an estimated EUR 6,117,409.32.
Following the ceremony, the minister and his delegation conducted an assessment visit to the project site before proceeding to the municipality of Ecunha to oversee the progress of electrification works.
