The Solar Energy Production Plant will provide benefits to over 51,023 residents of the Bailundo municipality in the Huambo province. Today, December 12, the Minister of Energy and Water is visiting the municipalities of Bailundo, Ecunha, and Huambo as part of his agenda in southern Angola.
On Tuesday, December 12, a ceremony was held in Bailundo to mark the consignment and the laying of the first stone for the construction of a Solar Photovoltaic Plant, with a capacity of 7,992 MWdc, as part of the Angola 2025 Plan. This initiative, introduced by the Angolan government, aims to boost the electrification rate by using eco-friendly energy sources, offering more affordable and cleaner energy to local homes and businesses, while aiding the transition from unstable, fossil-fuel-generated electricity to a steady energy supply.
The ceremony was led by the Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, alongside the Provincial Governor, Notti Nolika, the King of Bailundo, Chiongolola Chongonga, and senior officials from MINEA, the energy sector, DNEER, PRODEL, ENDE, and the local government. The Consignment Agreement was signed by senior representatives from the companies PRODEL and MCA, acting on behalf of the Angolan government, with the involvement of the President of the PRODEL Board of Directors, Pedro Eduardo Afonso, supported by Haillé Arrissandro Vieira Dias Ferrão and the MCA consortium – Manuel Couto Alves, the project’s contractor.
During the event, the minister highlighted the President of the Republic, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s priority to ensure more Angolan families have access to clean, affordable energy. The goal is to achieve 70% of the National Energy Matrix from renewable sources by 2027, improving the quality of life for Angolans still without access to the national electricity grid. The project, estimated at EUR 20,271,445.00, is set to be completed within three months of the contract signing, with 15,600 solar panels being installed. It is expected to generate savings of approximately EUR 6,117,409.32 and create 50 direct jobs.
Following the ceremony, the minister and his delegation visited the project site and then proceeded to Ecunha to assess the progress of electrification works.
Institutional Information and Communication Technology Office and Press Department of the Ministry of Energy and Water, in Bailundo, on December 12, 20XX. João Baptista Borges João Baptista Borges
