Africa-Press – Angola. The minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, and the Vice-President of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency of the World Bank (MIGA-WB), Junaid Kamal, discussed on Friday (06) in Luanda the strengthening cooperation in the energy and water sectors.
According to a press release senton Saturday (07), the meeting also served to identify opportunities for the development of new structuring projects in these sectors.
During an audience granted by the Angolan government to a World Bank delegation, within the framework of strengthening institutional dialogue and strategic cooperation between Angola and the World Bank, ongoing projects in the energy and water sectors, financed by the World Bank in Angola, were azalyzed.
According to the document, the minister of Energy and Water outlined a set of potential actions to be developed within the framework of deepening this strategic partnership, and a review was conducted of the majority of projects underway, their progress, and prospects for expansion.
From this perspective, the possibility of extending structuring initiatives was discussed, namely the Institutional Development Project for the Water Sector, with the transition to a 3rd phase with a greater focus on the sanitation component, as well as the eventual implementation of a second phase of the Bita project, given its strategic relevance.
Also in the area of water, the minister highlighted the province of Luanda as a strategic priority, taking into account, among other factors, the high population density, estimated at around 13 million inhabitants.
He stressed that the Bita project, currently underway, will substantially strengthen the capacity for the production and distribution of drinking water in the country’s capital.
In the scope of the meeting, João Baptista Borges presented the RECLIMA project, an initiative of the Angolan Executive on climate resilience and combating the effects of drought, particularly in the southern regions of the country, reaffirming Angola’s commitment to public policies aimed at adapting to climate change.
Regarding the national electricity sector, the Angolan government official presented the World Bank delegation with the Executive’s main priorities, highlighting the strengthening of private sector participation in the electricity transmission and distribution segments, and legal reforms already underway.
According to the note, the parties reiterated their commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation, with a view to pursuing the strategic objectives of the Angolan Executive, aimed at improving the living conditions of the population and promoting the country’s sustainable development.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary of State for Energy, Arlindo Carlos, as well as senior officials from the sector. Meanwhile, the Vice-President of MIGA-BM, Junaid Kamal, was accompanied by a high-level delegation of directors and specialist staff from the institution.
