Luanda – Angolan Government’s investments for the next few years in the energy sector may reach up to US$7 billion, said the President of the Republic, João Lourenço.
Speaking Wednesday to the press after the inauguration of the Baía Farta Photovoltaic Power Plant in the centre-west Benguela Province, João Lourenço said that the authorities are working to electrify the entire country over the next four to five years, using different forms of energy production, preferably from eco-friendly sources.
This is already happening with the Capanda, Laúca and Caculo Cabaça dams, the last one is under construction, as well as the binational power plant, projected for Cunene Province, explained the Head of State, who this morning also inaugurated the Biópio photovoltaic plant, also in Benguela.
João Lourenço added that currently the country combines hydroelectric energy production with polluting sources, which are the diesel generators, economically not very profitable, because they consume a lot of fuel, which are pollutants and enemies of the environment.
He said that, gradually, the country will get rid of the polluting sources, underlining: “The gains are for the environment, but also for the State´s coffers”.
The Head of State went on to say that based on this first experience, which took place in Benguela Province, with the inauguration of the photovoltaic parks of Biópio and Baía Farta, the country will continue to combine two sources of energy production, with the difference that photovoltaic energy would replace thermal energy.
The President also noted that investment in that area was large, as there are seven projects underway and many others planned for the rest of the country, particularly in the south and east side of Angola, which are less electrified regions.
He stressed that the aim of electrifying the country is not only to serve citizens, guaranteeing energy at home, but also to create the conditions for the desired industrialization of the country.
“As you know, there can be no industrialisation without energy. Energy is a fundamental condition for the country to get industrialised”, stressed the President.
According to Lourenço “there have been complaints over the years that raw materials are exported unprocessed, they are not transformed locally, they do not leave wealth, they do not provide jobs because raw materials are exported unprocessed”.
He then explained that with abundance of energy, there would no longer be an excuse and it would be easy for investors who want to invest in different industries to have this essential product to work with.
