"We have only 10 of the country's 18 provinces interconnected, which means that perhaps more than worrying about continuing to invest in production – I am not neglecting this need – the priority of priorities at this moment is, without a shadow of a doubt, to invest in the transport and distribution of energy in such a way that all Angolan citizens can benefit from this precious asset", said the President of Angola.
The head of state stressed that what will be the largest dam in the country is under construction, Caculo Cabaça, in the Kwanza basin, with the construction of three more dams also planned, which together should produce close to 1800 megawatts.
According to João Lourenço, the Kwanza basin alone will produce at least 7000 megawatts of energy, which will be gradually injected into the national energy grid, with the prospect of export to neighboring countries, namely Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the region of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from the south of the country.
Regarding water supply in the province of Huíla, the head of state stressed that there are projects in the pipeline, expected to start "very soon" to supply the city of Lubango, "which has a large deficit in terms of water supply" , and projects within the framework of "combating drought in southern Angola, to benefit not only the population of the interior of the province but also livestock, the main wealth of the people of southern Angola".
According to João Lourenço, financing is guaranteed for both the Lubango city project and the reservoirs, the dams, as part of the fight against the drought in the south.
From the drought combat program, stated the President, the province of Cunene was prioritized, with the Cafu canal, with three more infrastructures being implemented, and it is expected that major projects for that region will be completed by 2025.
"Therefore, the province of Cunene will no longer be a concern for the Angolan State and we are now looking at the other two, namely Huíla, the city of Lubango, the Gambos region and the neighboring province of Namibe, where In addition to small water projects, we have six large dams that should also start construction soon", he said.
Asked about what projects the Executive has for degraded access roads in the Matala region, to facilitate the flow of agricultural production, João Lourenço considered that this problem is general and requires improving the state of conservation of communication roads, a situation that " It cannot and must not serve as an excuse for the lack of production."
The holder of executive power understands that whoever has the mission to produce "that produces", whoever has the mission to keep communication lives in good condition "must also do so, preferably simultaneously with the production process".
João Lourenço also argued that in the case, above all, of large agricultural entrepreneurs, in many situations "they must replace the State". "Small sections of roads that give access to their farms, the farmer can also do it himself, he can improve the road, he doesn't have to wait for the State. It's the State's obligation, yes sir, we know it is, but we all have to do it something to improve the condition of our roads", he noted.
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