[2019-04-12] Angola will produce 7.5 gigawatts of electricity in 2022

Source: Macauhub

According to the National Electricity Sector Development Plan for 2018-2022, Angola is expected to have an estimated electricity production capacity of 7.5 gigawatts in 2022.

The plan, which shows that 500 megawatts will be produced from renewable sources, aims to increase the electrification rate from the current 42% to 50%, by expanding and improving electricity infrastructure.

The expansion of electricity infrastructure will enable the sector to connect more than one million new customers (200,000 per year), throughout Angola, with a focus on provincial capitals, their urban and suburban areas and municipal headquarters.

Angolan news agency Angop reported last March that the power sector had reached a capacity of 4.90 gigawatts, of which 4.08 gigawatts are available, compared with an installed capacity of 3.8 gigawatts in September 2017, with 2.8 gigawatts available.

This increase in electricity production capacity was the result of raising the level of the Cambambe dam, allowing the reservoir to retain more water, as well as the entry into operation of the first four generator groups of the Laúca hydroelectric project.

The Plan also expects current production to increase to 6.52 gigawatts by the end of 2019, with the start-up of the Soyo combined cycle power station in the province of Zaire, hydroelectric power stations and the last two Laúca generator units.

The news agency also reported that for the first time in Angola’s recent history, even considering the high levels of unavailability of existing thermal generation, the country will have a surplus of production relative to consumption, as the peak is expected to be around 2.5 gigawatts in 2019.