Africa-Press – Angola. One hundred and 71 thousand families in the municipality of Saurimo, provinces of Lunda-Sul, will benefit from electricity from the Saurimo Photovoltaic Plant, with capacity to generate 26.13 megawatts (MW).
The project, inaugurated this Tuesday by the Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, comprises 44 thousand 850 solar panels, expected to produce more than 49 thousand MWh/year, in an investment of 38.8 million euros.
Regarding the inauguration of this infrastructure, the provincial governor of Lunda-Sul, Daniel Neto, highlighted that the entry into operation of this project will join the existing thermal and hydro plants in the province, constituting a ‘driving force’ for the production and distribution of energy in the municipality of Saurimo.
Furthermore, he highlighted that many energy problems that plagued residents have been overcome, with the inauguration of the solar park, avoiding the cost of fuel for the generator sets.
“The entry into operation of the photovoltaic plant allows Lunda-Sul to have sufficient capacity to meet the energy needs of the city of Saurimo, essentially serving urban and peri-urban neighborhoods”, he assured.
Due to these benefits, the governor asked the Ministry of Energy and Water to expand photovoltaic plants in all municipalities in Lunda-Sul, with emphasis on Cacolo and Muconda.
The inauguration was witnessed by the ambassador of the United States of America in Angola, Tulinabo Mushingi, ambassador of South Korea in Angola, Stefan Kwang, representative of the Portuguese embassy, Ana Maneira, among other members of the Angolan Government and religious and traditional entities.
The construction of the Saurimo Photovoltaic Plant is part of the Angolan Government’s objective, identified in the ‘Energia Angola 2025’ Plan, to diversify the country’s energy matrix, aiming to benefit around 60 percent of its rural population.
The project is also part of a set of seven solar parks to be installed by the end of this year, in the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié, Lunda-Norte and Moxico, with a total capacity of 370 MW.
These panels are intended to provide renewable and clean electricity to around 2.4 million Angolans, contributing to the annual reduction of polluting emissions of around one million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
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