The Luachimo hydroelectric power station in Angola has been launched. The ceremony was attended by prominent officials including Angola’s Energy and Water Minister João Baptista Borges and the Chinese ambassador to Angola, Zhang Bin.
This project, managed by China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC), a subsidiary of China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC), underwent rehabilitation that has substantially increased the plant’s capacity, from 8.8 MW to 34 MW.
The rehabilitation project, which began in 2017, involved comprehensive upgrades and installations. These included the repair of hydromechanical equipment, the construction of a new water diversion canal, the installation of four new turbines each with a generating capacity of 8.5 MW, the establishment of a new 60 kV substation, and the expansion of transmission and distribution networks. The total investment for these enhancements was $212 million, financed with the support of the Chinese government.
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Boost in power supply
This increased capacity is expected to significantly alleviate the electricity supply challenges in the province of North Luanda, particularly in the capital Dundo, benefiting its population of nearly 200,000. Additionally, the upgraded plant will support more than 30 industrial companies, fostering local economic and social development.
The Luachimo hydroelectric power station, originally commissioned in 1953 during Angola’s colonial period, is situated on the Luachimo River, a tributary of the Kasai River, which eventually joins the Congo River.
The rehabilitation project underscores the robust cooperation between the Angolan Ministry of Energy and Water and Chinese enterprises. Ambassador Zhang Bin highlighted this successful collaboration at the inauguration, noting that CGGC is also engaged in constructing Angola’s largest dam on the Kwanza River, which will feature a massive 2,172 MW hydroelectric power station. This project alone has an installed capacity comparable to that of Ivory Coast, which stands at 2,230 MW, illustrating the significant scale and impact of ongoing energy projects in Angola.
