DUBAI, UAE – Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has unveiled plans to construct a 150-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Angola. This landmark project aims to provide clean energy to approximately 90,000 homes, generate employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and reduce carbon emissions.
The signing of a concession agreement between Masdar and Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water marks a significant step towards realizing this ambitious project. The ground-mounted solar power plant will be situated in the Quipungo region of Huila province, an area characterized by abundant solar irradiation but limited access to reliable electricity.
Energy insecurity remains a persistent challenge across Africa, hindering socio-economic development. In Angola, less than half of the population has access to electricity, a figure that dips even lower in rural areas. This project is expected to make a substantial contribution to Angola’s goal of achieving a national electrification rate of around 60% by 2025.
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President, and Masdar Chairman, underscored Africa’s vast potential to become a global renewable energy powerhouse. He reaffirmed the UAE’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with African nations to facilitate a just energy transition.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar’s Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the pivotal role of renewable energy development in unlocking Africa’s immense economic potential. He highlighted Masdar’s position as the largest renewable energy company in Africa, operating through its Infinity Power platform.
The solar project in Quipungo aligns with Masdar’s broader pledge, made during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023, to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects in Angola, Uganda, and Zambia. These agreements fall under the umbrella of Etihad 7, a global development initiative launched by the UAE to provide clean electricity to 100 million people across Africa by 2035.