The long-awaited Quilemba Solar project is poised to begin in 2025, following a recent agreement signed between Sonangol Gas & Energias Renováveis, TotalEnergies, and GreenTech.
The consortium finalized an Addendum to the Complementary Technical Parts of the Energy Acquisition Agreement (CAE) with the National Electricity Transport Network (REN), enabling construction to commence.
Located in Quilemba, Lubango, in Huíla Province, the project will establish a photovoltaic solar power plant with an initial capacity of 35 megawatts (MW), with plans to increase it by 45 MW in the future, according to a statement from Sonangol.
The electricity generated by the solar park will primarily serve the provinces of Huíla and Namibe, where diesel remains a major source of power generation. In its first phase, the Quilemba Solar project is expected to provide electricity to 100,000 people, with an agreed energy cost of approximately six US cents per kilowatt-hour.
João Baptista Borges, Minister of Energy and Water, emphasized that the project will significantly improve energy availability in the southern region, highlighting the area’s great potential to meet both economic and social needs.
Sonangol’s CEO, Gaspar Martins, confirmed that the contractor for the project has already been identified and is on-site.
He expressed confidence that construction will soon be underway, reaffirming the company’s commitment to the project.
The agreement was signed by Jorge Nunes, General Director of Quilemba, Rui Gourgel, CEO of RNT-EP, and Mauro Martins, Board Member.
The ceremony was attended by key figures including José Barroso, Secretary of State for Oil and Gas, and executives from Sonagás E&R, TotalEnergies Angola, and other signatory companies.
The project concession contract was originally signed by the private consortium in 2022 in Lubango, Huíla Province.
