The Luena Solar-Photovoltaic Energy Park in Moxico, with an installed capacity of 25.3 megawatts peak (MWp) and the potential to supply electricity to 59,463 customers, was officially activated on Friday last week.
This project is part of the Angola 2025 Plan, a government initiative aimed at diversifying the country’s energy mix and ensuring that 82 percent of the rural population has access to electricity.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Energy and Water, the construction of the park cost 36.9 million euros and involved the installation of 43,680 solar panels, significantly boosting the local power grid.
Currently, Luena’s electricity supply comes from the Tchiumbwe-Dala Hydro Plant, which provides 12.4 MW, the Luena 2 Thermal Power Plant with 4.4 MW, and Luena 3 (WARTSILA) with 10 MW.
The Luena Solar-Photovoltaic Energy Park is part of a series of seven parks being developed across various provinces, including Benguela (Baía Farta and Biópio), Huambo (Bailundo), Bié (Cuito), Lunda-Norte (Lucapa), and Lunda-Sul (Saurimo), all set for completion by the end of this year.
The photovoltaic parks in Saurimo (Lunda-Sul), Biópio, and Baía Farta (Benguela) are already operational and generating energy.
These projects were developed by an international consortium of Sun Africa and MCA, with MCA responsible for engineering and construction.
The consortium has completed three parks on schedule, supplying clean, renewable energy to approximately 2.4 million Angolans and reducing annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by around one million tons.
The implementation of these solar plants also negates the need to consume approximately 1.4 million liters of diesel for generators and thermal power production, leading to substantial savings in fuel import costs and significantly reducing pollution.
