The Angolan government, has announced plans to develop a 26MW photovoltaic solar power plant in Saurimo, Lunda Sud province in the north-east of the country.
The project once completed will help reduce the electricity supply deficit for 534,000 inhabitants of Saurimo city. The project includes a transmission line and a 220kV substation.
The development of the new solar power plant is part of a large project that will lead to the establishment of seven solar power plants in seven provinces of Angola. Construction is expected to commence in October 2020 and will last 17 months.
According to Cláudio Pemessa, director, Provincial Office of nfrastructure and technical services, Lunda Sud needs 70MW to supply the population and businesses.
Pemessa said currently, Lunda Sud only has an installed capacity of 16MW, which is generated from the Chicapa hydroelectric plant. Also providing water for irrigation, its dam is located on the Chicapa river, 24km from Saurimo. The new solar project is in addition to a large solar off-grid electrification project.
