Angola is set to have grant of US $1.6Bn used to be invested in rural electrification and access to clean drinking water in the country.
The loan was approved by Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States and issued to Sun Africa and its partners ING Capital and Omatapalo. Sun Africa, a Miami-based company, will lead the development of this project, which aims to install 65 solar mini-grids with integrated electricity storage and water treatment systems.
The solar project will feature 200 solar cabins and 60,000 solar home systems to power approximately 827,000 people. Six networks in Catete and Lauca will electrify an additional 45,000 homes. Sun Africa will also build solar farms with a combined capacity of 600 MW for Angola’s national electricity grid.
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Objective
The overall goal is to bring electricity to 350,000 homes and provide drinking water to 1.1 million people across several Angolan provinces, including Cunene, Huila, Namibe, Cuando Cubango, Catete, and Lauca. In addition to its significant development impact, this project will create 3,100 jobs in the US, showcasing a major boost for both U.S. exports and employment.
The funding is part of the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP), which aims to support American exporters in regions where China has established a dominant presence. This is particularly relevant in Angola, where China has made considerable investments in energy infrastructure, including the recommissioning of the 34 MW Luachimo hydroelectric power station and the construction of a massive 2,172 MW hydroelectric dam on the Kwanza River.
This substantial American investment reflects a strategic move to enhance U.S. influence in a competitive global market while addressing crucial infrastructure needs in Angola.
