The objective is to advance regional energy integration and sell electricity to companies, mainly linked to the mining industry, said the Minister of Energy and Water (Minea), João Baptista Borges, at the signing of the memorandum of understanding involving Minea, the Network National Electricity Transport Company, Promarks Energy and Trafigura (promoters).
Angola has a surplus of energy production that can be exported to a region "where demand is significant, mainly related to mining", he highlighted, adding that the project can meet the demand of other countries and guarantee exchanges in both directions (export and import).
Currently, Angola has an installed energy production capacity of 6500 megawatts (MW) and an internal demand of just 2300 megawatts, and it is planned to supply up to 2000 megawatts (MW) to the eastern region of Zambia and DRCongo through this line.
The expected annual revenue is close to 750 million dollars (694 million euros).
The line will connect the Middle Kwanza area where Angola's main installed capacity is concentrated to the so-called Copper Belt, and the execution of the infrastructure should take around two years.
João Baptista Borges highlighted that this interconnection will also complement rail transport in the Lobito rail corridor, currently seen "essentially from the perspective of freight transport", to which it is intended to add energy transport and communications, via fiber optics.
The operator of the energy transmission system, that is, the owner of the line, will be responsible for concluding agreements with end users, such as mining companies, with the tariff being negotiated between the parties.
"It's a relationship between private individuals only", said the minister, regarding the definition of prices.
It is a private initiative project, without public funding, and will bring "advantages to all countries" involved, assured the same person, adding that Angola also has interconnection plans in the south of the country and in other parts of DRCongo.
