- The 25MW Caraculo solar PV plant has been commissioned in the municipality of Bibala, 60 km from the provincial capital of Namibe, Moçâmedes.
- The developer is the Solenova consortium which consists of Italy’s oil and gas giant Eni through its subsidiary Azule Energy, and the Angolan National Petroleum Company, Sonangol.
The commissioning was inaugurated by the ministers of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, by the Provincial Governor, Archer Mangueira
The energy produced at Caraculo will be injected into the southern distribution network, specifically into the transmission line that passes a few meters from the location of this unit, and will all be purchased and delivered to the National Energy Transport Network.
The Caraculo Solar Power Plant project foresees a second phase with an increase in production capacity to 50MW, which will also make clean energy available to some regions of neighbouring Huíla province.
At the commissioning the Angola African Energy Chamber, Sérgio Pugliese said, “the inauguration of this photovoltaic plant demonstrates the commitment of the Angolan government with the energy transition and I remember that, during the Angola Oil & Gas Conference 2022, in one of his interventions the Minister Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, underlined that these structural projects for Angola’s energy sector would already be operational in 2023. This project by Sonangol and Azule Energy also confirms the importance of events such as the Conference and Exhibition Angola Oil & Gas 2023 and its contributions to sustainable development and a decarbonized economy.”
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
