Renewable Energy Powers 70% of Angola’s Electricity Consumption, Government Says
Renewable energy sources currently account for approximately 70 percent of Angola’s electricity consumption, with hydropower contributing more than 60 percent of the country’s energy mix, Minister of State for Economic Coordination José de Lima Massano announced on Thursday in Luanda.
Massano made the remarks during the opening session of the 2nd International Conference on Energy and Water, which runs until Friday in the Angolan capital.
The announcement comes as Angola continues to pursue its ambitious energy transition strategy.
In 2024, Minister of Energy and Water João Baptista Borges stated that the country aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity generation mix to 73 percent by 2027.
According to Massano, Angola’s electricity generation capacity has nearly quadrupled over the past decade, rising from 1,772 megawatts in 2012 to 6,400 megawatts in 2025.
During the same period, the country expanded its very high-voltage transmission network to 5,950 kilometers while significantly strengthening its electricity distribution infrastructure.
“This transformation is clearly reflected in the national energy matrix,” Massano said. “In 2012, Angola’s power system was predominantly thermoelectric.
Today, around 70 percent of the electricity consumed in the country comes from renewable sources, with hydropower accounting for more than 60 percent.
This has contributed to lower operating costs and enhanced environmental sustainability.”
The minister noted that improvements in the energy and water sectors have created favorable conditions for growth across key industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, telecommunications, and logistics.
He added that the expansion of these sectors is helping Angola build a more diversified, inclusive, and sustainable economy, supported by recent economic performance indicators.
According to Massano, agriculture and forestry currently account for nearly 25 percent of Angola’s economic activity, while the trade sector contributes 19.27 percent.
He further stated that Angola’s economy has recorded strong growth over the past two years, enabling the country to reclaim its position in 2025 as Africa’s sixth-largest economy and the third-largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Recognizing the strategic importance of energy and water for national development, Angola has made substantial structural investments in these sectors,” he said. “In just over a decade, the country has moved from a system characterized by shortages and frequent power outages to one defined by expanding and modernized generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.”
Massano also highlighted significant progress in the water sector, noting that several major projects are underway to increase drinking water production and expand access to safe water supplies.
Among the flagship initiatives are the Bita and Quilonga Grande water projects in the provinces of Luanda and Icolo e Bengo.
Together, the projects are expected to produce more than 777,000 cubic meters of potable water per day and provide services to approximately 7.5 million people.
Speaking at the conference, Energy and Water Minister João Baptista Borges emphasized that energy and water are fundamental pillars of social stability, economic competitiveness, national sovereignty, and geopolitical influence.
“Angola understands this reality,” Borges said, highlighting ongoing investments aimed at ensuring sustainable development, promoting social inclusion, and improving living standards across the country.
He acknowledged that significant challenges remain, including unequal access to electricity and clean water, regional disparities, and infrastructure constraints that require continued investment and effective implementation.
The 2nd International Conference on Energy and Water is bringing together experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from Angola, Portugal, and Brazil to discuss renewable energy, rural electrification, regional power interconnection, environmental sustainability, technological innovation, smart grids, electric mobility, integrated water management, and green hydrogen development.
