Luanda: The Minister of Energy and Water, Joo Baptista Borges, announced that several private companies have expressed interest in constructing transmission lines and commercializing Angolan electricity for sale to neighboring countries.

According to Angola Press News Agency, the minister identified Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia as the primary potential markets for exporting energy from the national power grid. This move aligns with the sector’s opening to private operators. Significant progress has been made with memoranda of understanding already signed, and concession agreements expected soon.

Borges mentioned that Angola has also entered into bilateral and trilateral agreements with the DRC and Zambia, with formalization of final legal instruments anticipated shortly. He emphasized the imminent completion of the first energy interconnection with Namibia, noting the sector’s rapid progress. Interconnection with Zambia is also a priority to address challenges related to the Lobito Corridor project.

Domestically, Borges reported that 13 out of the country’s 21 provinces are connected to the national electricity system, predominantly in central and southern regions. Regarding the submarine cable project linking Cabinda province to the National Electricity System from Soyo city, a bathymetric survey is underway to define the seabed relief.

The minister noted that a contracted company is conducting the survey, which will determine the exact route of the two submarine cables, approximately 120 kilometers each, and the locations of two electrical substations in Soyo and Cabinda. This survey is expected to take several months, as it is a crucial phase for subsequent project stages.

As part of his 48-hour working visit to Zaire Province, intended to evaluate sector infrastructure, Borges inspected the Soyo Combined Cycle Power Plant.