Angola, Moxico Leste: Angola has launched what is described as sub-Saharan Africa’s largest off-grid photovoltaic facility, aimed at providing continuous power to Cazombo, the capital of the newly formed province of Moxico Leste, according to Club of Mozambique.
The Cazombo Photovoltaic Park, developed by the Angolan subsidiary of Germany’s MCA Group, is designed to supply 24-hour electricity to about 136,000 residents. The installation consists of a 25.4 MWp solar array, a 75.26 MWh battery storage system, and black-start capability intended to help restore power if a system failure occurs. Authorities said that 12,000 of the planned 16,000 household connections have been completed so far, with 3,000 already in service.
Energy minister João Baptista Borges called the commissioning a milestone for both the province and the country, emphasising that the project represents “progress, inclusion and energy independence.” The Cazombo facility is the first of 46 planned solar minigrids under a rural electrification initiative launched by MCA in 2023. The wider programme, budgeted at more than $1 billion, is expected to benefit 60 communities across six provinces by deploying autonomous clean energy systems that operate without diesel or other thermal generation.
Officials noted that fuel is costly and difficult to transport to remote areas such as Moxico Leste. The solar plant is projected to cut annual fuel consumption by nearly 10 million litres and reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 37,000 tonnes per year. Provincial governor Crispiniano dos Santos said the project could encourage private investment and support agricultural and industrial development. A separate MCA scheme to draw and treat water from the Zambezi River is planned for completion in July 2027, covering 48 sites across five provinces.
Source: The Macao News
