During his address in Benguela last Thursday, the Minister of Energy and Water made a significant announcement regarding the Cunje Hydroelectric Power Plant situated in Camacupa, Bié province. He revealed that the plant, inactive for over three decades due to damage from the armed conflict, is scheduled to become operational later this year. Minister João Baptista Borges emphasized its installed capacity of approximately one megawatt and expressed satisfaction with its modest size, noting its valuable contribution to the national electricity generation park.
At the inauguration of the ministry’s 12th Consultative Council themed “Energy and Water Towards Expansion and Improved Quality of Services,” the Minister discussed the challenges faced by the sector. He presented a comprehensive analysis of the current state of companies under the ministry’s jurisdiction, underscoring “limitations and inefficiencies” that pose serious risks to sector stability. Minister Borges drew attention to issues within the National Electricity Distribution Company (ENDE), such as the lack of an efficient commercial management system and a significant shortage of meters, especially among large customers.
Addressing the water sector, the Minister expressed concern about losses, particularly in the province of Luanda, where inefficiency reaches around 30%. He stressed the urgent need for modernizing the management system, including the customer database. Minister Borges also encouraged the Empresa Pública de Águas de Luanda (EPAL) to implement a robust, fraud-proof, and easily auditable metering system, advocating for tariff increases to combat waste caused by vandalism and mining. In light of revenue challenges faced by companies in the electricity and water sectors, the Minister urged managers to seek innovative solutions to address these persistent problems.
