Regulator actively takes part on the promotion of investment in renewables in Angola

On June 19, the 1st Angola International Renewable Energy Forum was held in Luanda, organized by the Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX). The main objective of this event was to promote actions aimed at attracting investment to the energy sector, namely in the production with renewable resources such as Solar, Hydro, Biomass and Wind. The context of the energy sector, the potential of the sector in Angola, the regulation and the opportunities and projects for investment in Angola and solutions for sustainable economic development were presented.

The Angolan Government, in particular the Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) has great interest in developing the sector and for this purpose the "Angola 2025" Long-Term Strategy was established, highlighting the objectives to promote the human development and well-being of Angolan people, to ensure a high rate of economic development, to harmoniously develop the national territory and to promote a competitive insertion of Angola into the world economy.

We recognize that the energy component of domestic production is still below that of SADC's main partners, due to the characteristics of the equipment used by the manufacturing plants in Angola. The Executive’s premise is to promote investments and attract investors to carry out renewable energy production projects in Angola, according to the renewable energy strategy that aims at a contribution of 7.5% of renewable energy in the global energy mix until 2025.

IRSEA as a Regulatory Body has actively participated in this national determination with the development of a Regulatory Framework, which is based on the approval of the Amendment Law of the General Electricity Law by Law no. 27/2015, of December 14, and the development of regulations, updating existing regulations and creating new ones.

We highlight that, with the support of the European Union, under the coordination of IRSEA and with the involvement of the 3 public companies of the sector and the National Directorate of Electricity, a Draft Model of Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to renewable energy projects was presented at a workshop held on May 24 2019 in Luanda.

Since this document is still under public consultation and, with the support and dissemination of ALER, we hope to receive input from the private sector to ensure that these contracts facilitate and effectively attract investment and renewable energy projects in our country.

We intend to extend this work with the development of a Model Concession Contract also for renewable energies and, once more with the support and dissemination of the ALER, we hope to receive contributions from the private sector to ensure that these contracts are equally facilitating and effective in attracting investment.

All these documents will be presented in September during the ALER Open Day, held by ALER for its Members. We hope to see you there.

Luís Mourão

Chairman of the Board of Directors of IRSEA