35 MW Solar PV Project Coming Up In Angola

The Angolan Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with French renewable energy company Total Eren and local energy company Greentech-Angola Environment Technology, Ltd. for a 35 MW solar power plant.

Both Total Eren and Greentech will own the project in 75:25 ratio with an option for state oil and gas company Sonangol to join the project. Talks with Sonangol are currently under discussion.

To be developed, financed, built and operated by the 2 partners, the 35 MW project will come up in Lubango, capital of Huila province. The declaration of a MoU follows a detailed feasibility study for the project in collaboration with local authorities and key stakeholders, informed Executive Vice President and Global Head of Business Development of Total Eren, Fabienne Demol.

“This project will provide clean and affordable electricity for the local population of Huila province while bringing immediate economic benefits to the State of Angola,” stated Executive and Co-Founder of Greentech-Angola Environment Technology, Jorge Salvador. “We are looking forward to working hand in hand with the technical teams of MINEA, the National Transport Network (RNT), the Public Electricity Production Enterprise (PRODEL) and the Regulatory Institute for Water and Electricity Services (IRSEA), which will be decisive to master the challenges that arise from the implementation of one of the first utility-scale solar PV project financed and operated by independent partners in Angola.”

Greentech says it is currently deploying 50,000 solar home systems (SHS) to cover all Angolan provinces to bring clean power to customers in remote areas.

Last year, Italy’s Eni and Sonangol launched a new joint venture called Solenova Ltd. to explore renewable energy Opportunities in Angola, starting with a 50 MW solar power plant (see Eni Forms Joint Venture For Angola).