The photovoltaic power plant is set to begin operations, providing “green” electricity to over 170,000 families and saving more than 19 million liters of fuel. The Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) will inaugurate the Saurimo Photovoltaic Park in Lunda Sul tomorrow, April 2, 2024, led by João Baptista Borges. With an installed capacity of 26.13 megawatts (MW), this park will deliver “green” electricity to 171,565 people.
The Angolan Government’s “Energy Angola 2025” plan aims to diversify the country’s energy sources, targeting about 60% of the rural population with access to electricity. The project, valued at 38.8 million euros, includes 44,850 solar panels and will generate more than 49,000 MWh annually. A 15 kV medium voltage line will be constructed to connect the solar park to the switching station, prepared for future links with the Tchicumina, Nhama, and Hidrochicapa interconnection line switching stations. This initiative will save over 19 million liters of fuel per year and prevent emissions of more than 68 thousand tons of CO2 annually. The Saurimo Photovoltaic Park is part of a network of seven parks, with a combined capacity of 370 MWp, located in the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié, Lunda-Norte (in Lucapa), and Moxico (in Luena), expected to be operational by the end of this year.
The seven solar parks were developed by an international consortium of Sun Africa and MCA, with MCA responsible for engineering and construction. These parks will provide renewable and clean electricity to around 2.4 million Angolans and contribute to an annual reduction of approximately one million tons of CO2.
Additionally, these solar parks will eliminate the need for about 1.4 million liters of diesel used in generators and thermal production, which are highly polluting, leading to significant savings in fuel import costs. João Baptista Borges João Baptista Borges
