By Nelson Costa and Pedro Calombe
Africa-Press – Angola. The Laúca hydroelectric project, located in the municipality of Cacuso, in Malanje, reached its maximum production capacity of 2,070 megawatts of energy this year, with the entry into operation, in May, of the 65 MW ecological plant, inaugurated by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço.
The Laúca hydroelectric plant built in 2012, whose works were estimated at more than five billion US dollars, generates energy through six turbines with a capacity of 334 megawatts each and an ecological power plant.
The infrastructure, in operation since 2017, is located 47 kilometers from the Capanda hydroelectric project and has a 132 meter high dam, built in an area of 24 thousand hectares, with a reservoir of 18 thousand hectares.
The dam, currently considered the largest in the country, is an example of success that already benefits more than five million inhabitants of the interconnected system north, center and south of the country.
Still in the energy field, the municipality of Cangandala benefited, this year, for the first time, from electricity from the public network, with the start-up of a 30 Kva electricity distribution line, with a system installed in the town of Cassuco, which includes a 400 kilovolt Transformer Pole (PT) that is allowing 500 household connections and public lighting to be made in phases.
The Ministry of Energy and Water also launched the Rural Electrification Project, which will benefit 101 thousand 925 inhabitants of 20 communes in the province of Malanje, until 2026.
Of the 20 communes, 10 will be supplied with photovoltaic panels and energy stored in batteries, while another 10 will be connected to the national electricity grid, through the Laúca and Capanda hydroelectric dams.
Water
The city of Malanje gained, this year, the largest water collection, treatment and distribution system in the province, in the town of Quissol, also inaugurated by President João Lourenço.
This is an infrastructure with the capacity to produce 720 cubic meters of water per hour, from the Cuije River, budgeted at 31 million 237 thousand and 861 US dollars, financed by China’s credit line, which aims to reinforce supplying the city of Malanje.
The aforementioned unit also includes reservoirs, pipelines, electromechanical equipment and administrative areas and made it possible to make 12 thousand new household connections in the urban center and neighborhoods of Canâmbua, Maxinde, Carreira deiro, Vila Matilde and Cangambo.
Health
The Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, announced the construction of an operating room, emergency bench and intensive care rooms at the Malanje General Hospital, aiming to reinforce the unit’s services.
According to the official, the Ministry is working on mobilizing funds for this purpose as quickly as possible, so that the project can start on schedule.
Sílvia Lutucuta visited the spaces where the aforementioned works will be built, highlighting that the project also includes the construction of a pediatric observation area and a laundry room.
Culture
This year, Malanje recorded the death of King Buba Nvula Dalamana “Cabombo” in the municipality of Marimba, due to illness, at 101 years of age.
His replacement, the 45th Sovereign of the Kingdom of Ndongo, Luís António Ngola “Diba Ngola Njungo”, began his reign, after an official presentation, in the commune of Dala Samba (Marimba), to members of the government, traditional, religious and popular authorities.
The new King pointed out as lines of strength for his reign, the union of the people of the region, as well as the reinforcement of cooperation with the government, aiming at the construction of the memorial of the Kings and Sovereigns of Ndongo, in order to value the region and transform it in a poster of tourist and cultural visits.
The death of former deputy and businessman Monteiro Capunga due to illness, in Portugal, was also highlighted, due to his achievements and the notoriety he held in the political and business domains in the province and in the country.
Rains
The problem of the rains that have hit the province since November is one of the main incidents, with the destruction and flooding of three thousand 30 houses, the displacement of one thousand 731 families and the record of more than 10 deaths in the municipalities of Malanje , Calandula and Cacuso.
Agriculture
The year 2023 was marked by the opening of the national agricultural year 2023/24, in an event held in the municipality of Luquembo, under the presidency of the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, José de Lima Massano.
The governor highlighted the investments that the Executive has been making in infrastructure to support agriculture, the mobilization of resources to promote large-scale agriculture, especially grains, cereals and coffee.
Malanje also hosted the 1st Consultative Council of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, chaired by the holder of the portfolio, Francisco Assis, which addressed the country’s agricultural sector policies, as well as presenting the balance of actions and the 2021/2022 agricultural year.
On the occasion, the leader stated that the country registered an increase of 5.6 percent in national production, during the 2021/22 agricultural campaign, compared to the previous year, representing a positive path towards the Executive’s objectives.
Economy
The Minister of State for economic coordination, José de Lima Massano, inaugurated the first phase of the Ministry of Defense’s poultry project, in the commune of Quizenga (Cacuso), which foresees the production of 7 million chickens/year, from March 2024, in the provinces of Malanje and Cuanza Norte.
Budgeted at 50 million US dollars, the initiative aims to guarantee the logistical sustainability of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and supply chicken to the national market, alongside the socio-economic framework of former soldiers and job creation.
The project includes 140 ships (60 for Malanje and 80 for Cuanza Norte), each with five thousand chicks and a slaughterhouse, and will contribute to saving 300 million US dollars spent annually on importing chickens.
Meanwhile, 24 economic operators in the agricultural sector in the province of Malanje benefited from trucks, within the scope of the second phase of the Integrated Rural Trade Development Program (PIDCR).
Sport
The qualification of the Clube Recreativo União de Malanje (CRUM) for the Girabola 2023/24 is one of the biggest highlights of sport in the province, followed by the approval by the Angolan Football Federation (FAF), for the 1o de Maio field to host official games of the national championship of football.
CRUM was founded in May 2022, and competes for the first time in the biggest football competition, with a squad made up of 31 players, of which 15 are reinforcements hired on the national market.
Still in this field, the province of Malanje hosted the national senior men’s and women’s judo championship, with the participation of athletes from the country’s 18 provinces, a competition that aimed to determine the champions of the 2023 season in both sexes, in the categories from 48 to 73 kilograms.
Meanwhile, the province was also the stage for the XI national school games, the final of which pitted the National Under-20 football team against the Misto de Malanje, a match won by the visitors 4-2 on penalties.
At the end of the game, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Palmira Barbosa, defended the need for the massification of more sports modalities, with a view to stimulating federated sport, highlighting that many modalities do not correspond with the Executive’s intentions to develop sports practice and to create athletes in quantity and quality to serve the national teams.
The IV edition of the national basketball tournament for veterans in both classes also took place in Malanje, with the participation of several clubs in the country.
The Prudencial Seguros de Luanda team became the men’s champion, beating their opponent Players Only, also from the country’s capital, 47-38 in the final, and revalidated the title, adding their third consecutive cup to their collection. (2021, 2022 and 2023).
In the women’s class, Misto LCB from Luanda was the champion, having defeated Académica de Malanje by 29-8.
Malanje hosted, on the other hand, the 31st edition of the national basketball championship in Under-14 for both sexes, won by Petro de Luanda in men’s, having revalidated the title, by beating Ferroviário de Angola 56-53 in the final.
In the women’s division, Casa do Pessoal do Porto do Lobito dethroned 1o de Agosto, winning 51-50.
ANGOP
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
