The Angolan government plans to develop a 26MWp solar photovoltaic power plant in the city of Solimo in the southern province of Ronda in the northeast of the country. Helped reduce the shortage of electricity supply for 534,000 residents in Saurimo City. The project includes a transmission line and a 220kV substation.

The development of new solar power plants is part of a large-scale project that will result in the establishment of seven solar power plants in seven provinces of Angola. Construction is expected to start in October 2020 and will continue for 17 months.

According to the Director of the Provincial Infrastructure and Technical Services Office, Cladio Pemesa, the capital of South Ronda needs 70 megawatts of electricity to meet the needs of the population and businesses. Currently, its installed capacity is only 16MW, which is generated by the Chicapa hydropower plant. The dam is also located on the Chicapa River, 24 km from Saurimo, and also provides water for irrigation. The new solar project complements the large-scale solar off-grid electrification project.

Solar energy in Mozambique

In recent years, Mozambique has made significant efforts to electrify the country. For the government, renewable energy is essential to meet the challenge of ensuring more electricity in the country. Currently, there is only one large solar power plant under construction in Mozambique.

The 40MW plant is located near Mocuba in the province of Zambia. The Mocuba project is the first large-scale solar power plant in operation in the country and is an important step towards realizing Mozambique ’s ambition to add renewable energy to its energy mix. Editor / Huang Lijun