Italian oil and gas company Eni has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Angola for the local developments, renewable energy projects, health promotion, and hydrocarbon research.
The Memorandum of Understanding provides for the development of projects in the areas of access to energy, economic diversification, life on land (protection and expansion of forests), access to safe water and sanitation, access to public health services and education. The enclave of Cabinda, in the north of the country, will be prioritized as a region, with an anticipated positive impact to at least 180,000 people, with the creation of around 6,500 jobs and a CO2 emissions reduction capacity of around 380 kt per year. This integrated local development program (LDP) was designed in the framework of the Angolan National Development Plan and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs, the climate objectives that each Nation has set itself in the framework of the Paris Agreement to help limit the rise in global temperature), and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the country's 2030 Agenda.
Eni and the Government of Angola have also signed the Concession Agreement for a 50 MWp photovoltaic plant in the province of Namibe, where Eni supports rural development projects.
The plant will be connected to the transmission grid in the south of the country and will be built by Solenova, a joint venture between Eni and Sonangol dedicated to the development of renewable energy projects. This initiative is in line with Angola's strategy in the electricity sector, aimed at promoting renewable energy, reducing diesel consumption, operating costs and associated CO2 emissions.
The implementation of the first phase of the 25 MWp project will allow a reduction in diesel consumption estimated at around 13,500 cubic meters per year, reducing electricity production costs and greenhouse gas emissions by around 20,000 tons of CO2 per year.
