The 14th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) officially opened on April 17, 2024, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Angola is participating as one of the vice-presidents, alongside the Dominican Republic, Georgia, and Iraq, with Rwanda presiding over the event. Representing Angola were His Excellency João Baptista Borges, Minister of Energy and Water, and Júlio Maiato, Angola’s Ambassador to the UAE and Permanent Representative to IRENA.
The opening day featured a high-level plenary session that presented IRENA’s executive overview, emphasizing the goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity. Member states shared updates on their progress toward renewable energy targets set by the organization’s 169 member countries. Ambassador Júlio Maiato chaired the day’s final session in his capacity as Angola’s Permanent Representative.
Minister João Baptista Borges expressed pride in Angola’s selection as a vice-president and extended his congratulations to Rwanda for its leadership, as well as to the other vice-presidents. He emphasized the significant challenges Africa faces due to climate change, including Angola’s issues with drought, water scarcity, desertification, and limited infrastructure.
Borges highlighted Angola’s advancements in energy generation, noting an increase in capacity from 2.4 GW in 2015 to 6.2 GW within eight years. The proportion of hydroelectric power in Angola’s energy mix has grown from 39% to nearly 60%, while reliance on thermal power has declined from 61% to about 36% since 2015. These improvements stem from major investments, such as the completion of the 2 GW Laúca Hydroelectric Plant and the ongoing construction of the Caculo-Cabaça Hydroelectric Plant, which is expected to raise Angola’s total capacity to 9 GW.
The minister also emphasized key photovoltaic initiatives, including the Biopio Plant (188.80 MW) and the Baía Farta Plant (96.70 MW), which collectively supply approximately 4% of Angola’s public electricity. These projects have saved the country 3 million tons of fossil fuel annually and reduced carbon emissions by around 9 million tons. The first phase of the Caraculo Photovoltaic Plant (25 MW) is under development, with plans to expand its capacity to 50 MW.
Angola’s electrification rate has climbed to 43%, while diesel consumption in thermal plants has decreased by nearly 60%, from 1.36 billion liters in 2015 to 560 million liters in 2023. Despite these advancements, Borges acknowledged the need to expand the energy transmission network to distribute the available 2 GW of energy. Plans are underway to establish interconnections with neighboring countries, such as Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to boost intra-African energy trade and generate revenue from surplus energy.
The minister outlined ongoing reforms in Angola’s energy sector, including the introduction of new legal frameworks to enable Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to operate competitively and sell energy to the public grid through Power Purchase Agreements. He also detailed the 2023-2027 Energy Sector Action Plan, which aligns with Angola’s 2050 Long-Term Agenda. The plan targets 72% renewable energy integration into the national grid, including 1.2 GW of solar energy by 2027, and aims for a 50% electrification rate. Achieving these objectives will require an estimated $12 billion in investment, with significant contributions expected from financial institutions and the private sector.
Several new photovoltaic solar parks are set for completion this year, adding 584.50 MW of solar capacity and incorporating 90 MW with 25 MWh of battery storage. Additionally, two major electrification projects are progressing in the eastern and southern provinces, designed to provide electricity to over 6 million people across 132 localities. These projects primarily use solar systems with storage and associated distribution networks, significantly reducing construction timelines.
On the sidelines of the assembly, Minister Borges held bilateral discussions with the Minister of Infrastructure and Mineral Resources of São Tomé and Príncipe, sharing Angola’s experiences in leading the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). Meetings with financial institutions, including the IFC of the World Bank and the African Development Bank (ADB), focused on securing financing for sustainable energy initiatives and enhancing collaboration with IRENA. Borges also engaged with potential investors in renewable energy projects, particularly those targeting rural areas and private sector ventures. Investors expressed strong interest in supporting Angola’s energy transition through knowledge transfer, technological innovations, and creative solutions.
