During his address in Benguela last Thursday, the Minister of Energy and Water made a significant announcement regarding the Cunje Hydroelectric Power Plant situated in Camacupa, Bié province. He revealed that the plant, inactive for over three decades due to damage from armed conflict, is scheduled to begin operations later this year. Minister João Baptista Borges underscored its installed capacity of about one megawatt and expressed satisfaction with its modest size, acknowledging its valuable contribution to the national electricity generation park.
During the ministry’s 12th Consultative Council inauguration, themed “Energy and Water Towards Expansion and Enhanced Service Quality,” the Minister tackled the challenges facing the sector. He conducted a thorough assessment of companies under the ministry’s purview, highlighting “limitations and inefficiencies” that pose significant risks to sector stability. Minister Borges drew attention to issues within the National Electricity Distribution Company (ENDE), including the lack of an effective commercial management system and a noticeable shortage of meters, especially among major clients.
Addressing the water sector, Minister Borges expressed concerns about losses, particularly in Luanda province, where inefficiency reaches around 30%. He stressed the urgent need to modernize the management system, including the customer database. The Minister also urged Empresa Pública de Águas de Luanda (EPAL) to implement a robust, fraud-proof, and easily auditable metering system, supporting tariff increases to combat waste from vandalism and mining. Given the revenue challenges faced by companies in the electricity and water sectors, the Minister encouraged managers to explore innovative solutions to address these persistent issues. João Baptista Borges João Baptista Borges João Baptista Borges
