Abu Dhabi-based Masdar, a global leader in renewable energy, unveiled plans to initiate a substantial 150-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) venture in Angola. This ambitious project aims to provide sustainable energy to approximately 90,000 households while fostering employment opportunities, bolstering economic growth, and reducing carbon emissions.
During the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, Masdar solidified its commitment by signing a concession agreement with Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water. The agreement outlines Masdar’s responsibility to construct and manage a ground-mounted solar power initiative in the Quipungo region of the Hulia province, situated in southern Angola. This area, abundant in solar irradiation, currently grapples with unreliable access to electricity.
The initiative comes at a crucial time, addressing energy insecurity prevalent across Africa. In Angola, less than half of the population has reliable electricity access, a figure that significantly diminishes in rural areas. By 2025, Angola aims to elevate its national electrification rate to about 60%, a goal significantly supported by this initiative.
The agreement, signed by Angola’s Minister of Energy and Water, HE Joao Baptista Borges, and Masdar’s CEO, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, underscores a mutual commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions.
HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar, and President of COP28, emphasized Africa’s potential as a renewable energy hub. He reaffirmed the UAE’s support in fostering a just energy transition and expressed enthusiasm about the Angola project, which is expected to not only provide clean energy but also generate employment opportunities, further cementing the UAE’s collaboration with Africa.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, highlighted the pivotal role of renewable energy in unlocking Africa’s economic potential. He stressed Masdar’s commitment to this cause, citing the company’s partnership with Infinity Power to expedite a just energy transition, aiming to deliver 10 gigawatts of clean energy in Africa by 2030.
The solar project in Quipungo, Huila, will significantly reduce carbon emissions by displacing over 224,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to removing 50,000 cars from the roads. Moreover, it is poised to revolutionize energy access for homes and businesses, catalyzing economic growth in sectors like agriculture.
This initiative aligns with Masdar’s broader commitment, announced during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023, to develop 5 gigawatts of renewable energy projects across Angola, Uganda, and Zambia. These initiatives fall under the Etihad 7 initiative, a UAE-led global development fund aiming to provide clean electricity to 100 million people in Africa by 2035.
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