- Angolan state owned energy parastatal, SONANGOL, and the Chinese company QINGHAI LIHAO CLEAN ENERGY have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, for the joint evaluation of the establishment of a partnership to implement a photovoltaic solar energy industrial chain project, which will culminate in the production of photovoltaic panels in Angola, using quartz ore as raw material.
The agreement paves the way for, within a few years, Angola to have a solar panel industry based on the exploration of quartz, as well as the production of metallurgical silicon and polysilicon, to produce solar panels.
In line with the principle of retaining the minerals, avoiding export without the benefits of their transformation, a solar panel industry would play a key role in the energy transition strategy, considering the vital importance of solar energy in the process.
With a projected production capacity of 180 thousand tons of metallurgical silicon and 150 thousand tons of polysilicon per year, the factory is expected to produce 50 thousand tons of these products in the first phase.
Read more on Angola’s energy sector HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
