Portugal’s MCA, Sun Africa inaugurate 25MW solar plant in Angola

A consortium that includes diversified Portuguese company MCA, and Africa-focused utility-scale solar developer, Sun Africa, have commissioned a 25.3 MW solar park in Moxico province of Angola. The project’s inauguration took place last week, spearheaded by Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA).

Dubbed Luena Photovoltaic Park, the project was built at an investment of EUR 36.9 million (USD 40m), and features around 44,000 solar photovoltaic panels.

The Luena Photovoltaic Park is the fourth of seven PV parks MCA is constructing on behalf of the Angolan government. The solar power plant is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of almost 60,000 people.

MCA highlighted that the remainder of the solar power plants from the seven that were announced in 2020 should be operational by the end of the year. 

The solar power plants that MCA is constructing on behalf of the government of Angola will add a combined 370 MWp to the country’s power generation capacity.

Additionally, the solar projects will help the South-West African country meet its electrification targets, and diversify its energy mix as part of its Energia Angola 2025 plan. The plan is looking to ensure that around 77% of Angola’s rural population has adequate access to electricity.

Angola has been making use of diesel to supplement its electricity needs. The country expects to reduce consumption of diesel by around 1.4 million litres once all the seven solar power plants are operational.