Angola’s Solar Energy expansion supported by the World Bank

The Angolan Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) has invited representatives of the World Bank to present the ‘Scaling Solar’ program, a scheme run by the same financial institution which is aimed at unlocking private investment in on-grid PV solar projects in Africa in a two year period.

The program presented in Luanda, during a seminar organized by MINEA, also aims to support african countries in the implementation of projects that ensure, among other aspects, favourable tariffs, attraction of private investment, commitment of competent and experienced promotors in solar technologies and especially financing of long-term projects.

The Angolan State Secretary for Energy, António Belsa da Costa, said that the proposal to join the World Bank initiative is part of its plan to implement large-scale solar projects in the period 2018-2022 and mentioned that Angolan authorities had started talks to join the program in July last year.

The director of renewable energies at the Ministry, Sandra Cristovao, has also said that several sites for the construction of solar power plants were already identified, and that all of the country’s regions have favorable conditions for large-scale renewable energy projects. So far only a limited number of off-grid projects have been implemented across the country, mostly in the regions of Zaire, Bié, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Moxico, Cunene, Huíla, Cuando Cubango and Cuanza Sul.