Hydro-power a Priority for Angola

News out of Angola has its Chicapa hydroelectric dam ready to come online in March. According to a report from Angop, the Ministry of Energy and Water has made the project a priority and is working toward start-up as soon as possible. Currently the project is functioning at an experimental stage.

The project was conceived under a partnership between the National Electricity Company and the Russian diamond mining company Alrosa, and has generated interest from other mining companies looking to gain access to Angola’s mineral riches. The Ministry said that other mining companies are looking at the possibility of combining mining exploration with hydroelectric investments in AngolaAfrica.

The Ministry has also put high priority on the recovery of the Ngove hydro-electric system, in central Huambo province. The recovery program includes the rehabilitation of the structural part of the dam, regulation of the river flow, installation of a power production central, and construction of a new line of transportation from Huambo to Bie.