Africa-Press – Angola. Citizens residing in the municipality of Lucapa, Lunda-Norte province, stated this Saturday that the completion of the Photovoltaic Plant, with an installed power of 7.19 megawatts, will contribute to the socioeconomic development of the district and the reduction of fuel costs.
Citizens report that currently, energy consumption in the municipality is “very high”, due to the lack of a public source and the completion of the solar park will combat the product business in the district.
Trader Dhialho Umbure revealed that he spends over 80 thousand kwanzas every month to have energy in his establishment and in his residence, coming from private sources.
He said that the high cost of energy stimulates the rise in prices, especially for the basic food basket, predicting that the entry into operation of the photovoltaic plant will contribute to improving the cost of living in the municipality.
Resident Carlos Nahuma made it known that he pays 45 thousand kwanzas/month to have electricity in his T2 residence, a fact that he hopes to see addressed with the start of operation of the solar park.
Baker Alyh Mohamedh reported that he spends more than 100 thousand kwanzas/month on energy consumption from private thermal sources, a situation that has already made him think about giving up the business, due to the high operating costs.
“It is difficult to maintain a business in this municipality because energy is very expensive and we cannot raise the price of bread because the citizens have little purchasing power, a situation that has already made us think about giving up the business, but with the construction of the solar plant, we believe that the scenario will be better”, he stressed.
Citizen Nelinha Muhuma, an ice cream and soft drink seller, reiterated that the cost of energy often forces traders to raise product prices, to compensate for the payment for the product and “make some profit to continue with the business”.
In turn, citizen Nelson Paulo believes that the solar plant will attract more private investment in the municipality and stimulate competitiveness.
The project is 95 percent complete and also includes the expansion of the distribution network, 1,700 household connections and public lighting.
In addition to the work on installing six of the ten Transformer Posts (PT) foreseen in the project, work is underway on ten kilometers of the low voltage line, having already been carried out on 12 kilometers.
As for public lighting, he made it known that 600 poles have been erected, with their respective connections, with the only thing missing is the installation of the luminaires.
The 12 thousand and 90 solar panels have already been installed, as well as the support structures that include civil engineering and the technical part.
The plant is being installed on an area of 13.52 hectares and is valued at 19,706,428 euros, 80 percent of which is financed by Sweden and 20% by South Africa.
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