Angola’s energy production has reached a notable milestone of 6,300 megawatts, a dramatic increase from just 450 megawatts in 1975, according to the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, during his State of the Nation address on Wednesday, at the opening of the 2025/2026 Parliamentary Year.
According to the Head of State, Angola currently has 72 power generation plants, including 13 hydroelectric, 45 thermal, five solar, and nine hybrid facilities.
“If in 1975 the length of the national electricity transmission network was 650 kilometers — later reduced to 250 kilometers by 2002 due to the destruction of infrastructure — today, the country has a network stretching over 5,000 kilometers of transmission lines,” he highlighted.
The electricity access rate currently stands at 48%, with over two million households registered with the National Electricity Distribution Company (ENDE).
The President added that the Government is implementing an extensive electrification program, using grid extension and mini-grid solutions, which will significantly expand access, especially in rural towns and villages that have never had electricity.
He reaffirmed the commitment to continue increasing generation capacity so that more Angolans can be connected to the national grid.
To that end, he noted that the Gove/Matala transmission line—which will integrate the provinces of Huíla and Namibe into the national grid—is in its final stages of completion.
Water Supply Developments
In the water sector, the President highlighted substantial progress in improving water supply capacity across the country.
Over the past year, several projects have been completed, including the Ndalatando Water Supply System (Cuanza-Norte), the Morro Bento Distribution Center (Luanda) and its network, as well as systems in Quela and Marimba (Malanje), Chibia and Humpata (Huíla), Chitembo (Bié), and Damba and Maquela do Zombo (Uíge).
Ongoing construction projects include water systems in Cela, Chicala Choloanga, and Tchindjendje (Huambo), as well as in Chitado and Oncôcua (Cunene).
The government is also rehabilitating the capture, treatment, and distribution systems in Benguela, Lobito, Catumbela, and Baía Farta, and strengthening supply systems in Dundo, Saurimo, and Uíge.
However, President Lourenço acknowledged that the rapid and unplanned population growth in Luanda has posed major challenges, particularly in water distribution. To address this, two major projects are being implemented — BITA and Quilonga Grande.
The BITA project, expected to be completed by late 2026, will supply around 2.5 million residents in southern Luanda. The Quilonga Grande system will serve approximately five million people, together expanding water supply capacity to benefit about 7.5 million residents across Luanda and Icolo e Bengo.
In terms of strategic investments, the Head of State reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to expanding water availability in the southern provinces affected by drought.
“The Cafu Canal is already a reality and is transforming the lives of thousands of citizens. We expect to complete the construction of the Ndue and Calucuve water storage dams in Cunene in the coming months, along with their associated 180-kilometer canal network, bringing water to Embudo and Ondjiva,” he emphasized.
He further revealed that by 2026, the Cova do Leão dam and water supply systems for Cahama and Otchindjau municipalities are expected to be completed. By the end of that same year, 43 reservoirs and dams in Virei, Bibala, and Camucuio (Namibe) will be rehabilitated, and by 2027, the major Bero Dam, also in Namibe, is scheduled for completion.
Source: ANGOP
