Angola's energy ministry has officially inaugurated the 25.3MW Luena photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant in Moxico province.

The US$36 million solar farm comprises 43,680 panels and will serve around 171,565 people. A return on investment through fuel savings is guaranteed in seven years.

The Luena plant one of seven solar facilities with a combined capacity of 370MW being constructed in phases by Portugal’s MCA Group and US-based Sun Africa under a €523 million (US$561 million) development and EPC (D&EPC) contract signed in August 2019.

The first phase comprised development of the 189MW Biopio plant and 96MW Baia Farta facility in Benguela province, which were inaugurated in July 2022 and supply a combined 1.8 million people with electricity.

The second phase comprised the Luena facility and the 26.1MW Saurimo plant in the Lunda Sul province of northeast Angola, which was inaugurated in early April. This phase also includes the 7.4MW Lucapa solar farm in the northern Lunda Norte province, which is set for inauguration this year.

The final phase covers the 14.8MW Cuito plant in the central Bie province and the 7.9MW Bailundo facility in the central Huambo province. The groundbreaking ceremonies for these were held in December 2023 and they are expected to be completed in 2025.

The overall project is being financed by a credit facility from Swedish export credit agency EKN, re-insured by EKN and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-Sure), and a commercial loan from the Development Bank of South Africa.

The Angolan government is aiming for 72% of the country’s energy mix to come from renewable power by 2027, with solar accounting for 1.2GW. The authorities hope provide 50% of the population with access to electricity by 2027.