Angola Launches First Of 46 Solar Minigrids To Power Rural Communities And Expand Clean Energy Access

Angola has taken a major step forward in expanding clean energy access with the inauguration of the first of 46 planned solar minigrids in the country. The project, known as the Cazombo Photovoltaic Park, was officially opened by the Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, in the newly formed province of Moxico Leste. The ceremony was also attended by the provincial governor, Crispiniano dos Santos, and the Secretary of State for Energy, Arlindo Carlos. This marks the beginning of a large-scale initiative aimed at providing reliable electricity to remote communities that currently face significant energy shortages.

The Cazombo project includes a 25.4MWp solar PV power plant combined with a 75.26MWh battery energy storage system. According to Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water, it represents essential infrastructure that will deliver clean, low-cost, and environmentally friendly electricity. The system is designed to operate independently without reliance on diesel generators or other fossil fuel-based power sources, helping reduce pollution and energy costs in rural regions.

The initiative is part of the Solar Park for Rural Electrification in Angola, led by German-based MCA Deutschland and its local subsidiary, created in partnership with Portugal’s M. Couto Alves Vias Grupo. The programme aims to build 46 hybrid minigrids across six provinces, benefitting around 60 communities and reaching nearly one million people by 2026. The combined capacity of these installations will reach 256MWp of solar power, making it one of the most ambitious rural electrification efforts in Africa.

The project is supported by large-scale international financing. Angola’s Ministry of Finance selected Standard Chartered to structure €1.29 billion in Export Credit Agency–backed funding. The financing includes €1.2 billion guaranteed by Germany’s Euler Hermes and reinsured by Portuguese and South Korean export agencies, with an additional commercial loan of around €90 million.

The plant is the first major source of electricity for Moxico Leste, which has a population of about 400,000 people and has faced limited power access. The province was established in September 2024 after the division of the former Moxico region. The project is expected to significantly improve the quality of life, support education and healthcare services, and enable new economic opportunities.

According to the African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), Angola installed 53.8MW of new solar capacity in 2024, placing it fifth in Africa behind South Africa and Egypt. With this programme now underway, Angola aims to accelerate its renewable energy development and expand a more sustainable energy future for its citizens.