According to a statement from the Ministry of Energy and Water, to which VerAngola had access, this is the first park of its kind to come into operation in the province, and it is expected that, for example, parks in Cafunfo, Cuango and Cambulo will start operating in 2026.
"This is the first solar park of others that will soon come into operation in the province of Lunda Norte. For example, Cafunfo, Cuango and Cambulo will be on the same path next year, 2026, with more solar parks in full operation. Overall, for the province, more than 330,000 inhabitants will directly benefit from the implementation of these solar parks", the note reads.
Regarding the park inaugurated last Saturday, it will benefit more than 45,000 inhabitants.
"Regarding the inauguration in Lucapa, in terms of more obvious benefits, more than 45 thousand local residents will be covered with clean and cheaper electricity", says the government.
In terms of annual savings, with this park the State will be able to save more than 900 billion kwanzas.
"The project will save the public coffers more than 900 billion kwanzas per year, avoiding more than 18,000 tons of CO2 in polluting and environmentally harmful emissions per year, having employed around 100 workers, most of them young locals, in its execution", says the note.
In addition, the new park "will also save around five million liters of fuel per year, install 12,090 solar panels, with a power of 7,072 MWp".
The ministry says that this is a "strategic project for the country", and is part of "the Angolan government's priorities to expand the electricity distribution network to Angolans and, in this way, contribute to raising the population's living standards and quality of life".
On the occasion, João Baptista Borges highlighted the government's commitment to "the supply of drinking water, mainly in the eastern region, and that the areas that will be covered by solar parks will be served by water treatment and distribution systems, thus increasing the supply of this essential service, clearly and unequivocally improving the population's quality of life".
Speaking at the ceremony, the head of the Energy and Water portfolio pointed out the advantages of the inauguration of this park as saving fuel and reducing energy costs, among others.
"With this project, we are saving almost five million liters of fuel per year, which means we are saving around one billion kwanzas in fuel, which is significant because these are savings that can be used for other needs," he pointed out.
"From a social point of view, it is also important to mention here another major objective, which is to reduce the cost of energy for families. From an environmental point of view, we are reducing carbon dioxide emissions that are harmful to the environment (...)", he added, quoted by Rádio Nacional de Angola (RNA).
In general, the recently inaugurated park "is part of a package of solar parks, totaling around 50, which will be installed throughout the country, increasing the supply of clean and environmentally friendly electricity in Angola, contributing to the country's sustainable development." "The financing that makes it possible to build these solar parks is entirely based on public investment, and the Angolan government negotiated this financing with European banks and European export credit agencies, such as EKN and Euler Hermes," the ministry's statement said.
At the event, the minister was accompanied by the Secretary of State for Energy, Arlindo Carlos, and a delegation of officials from the Ministry of Energy and Water.
