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Web First: Eskom to assist Angola generate up to 10 000 MW
September 4, 2009
By Florence de Vries
The South African government and Eskom have agreed to assist Angola develop its large hydroelectric power potential of up to 10 000 megawatts.
An agreement signed this week between South Africa and Angola's energy departments provides potential for Angola to become a supplier of electricity.
Upon the signing of an implementation plan on Thursday night, South African energy minister, Dipuo Peters and her Angolan counterpart, Vera Lopez, decided to stage a three-day workshop in which Eskom will meet with Angolan companies to help unlock Angola's potential electricity supply.
Lopez reiterated the enormous hydroelectric power potential that Angola has but that the country could not do it without expertise from outside the country.
The Angolan civil war, which ended in 2002, left indelible marks on the country's progress, including inefficient energy supply.
But it is no secret that Angola has enormous potential in the production of hydro-electric power, a point that was highlighted by president Jacob Zuma on his recent visit with Angolan president Jose Eduardo Dos Santos.
However, before South Africa reaps the benefits of this potential, it has agreed to assist Angola in energy and energy efficiency ventures.
The Western Corridor project (Westcor) has made the production of hydroelectricity and the harnessing of these resources part of its mandate, Peter said.
The Westcor consists of South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Botswana, Angola and Namibia and its main aim is to harness hydro-resources linking it to the five countries.
Peters left a question about the Westcor's withdrawal from the Inga 3 hydropower project in the DRC over the latter's decision to go it alone, unanswered.
"Eskom is going to be a key shareholder in the facilitating of a relationship between the two countries," Peters added.
Lopez said Luanda's post-war growth had accelerated rapidly in the past few years and had already exceeded capacity.
Apart from the workshop presented by Eskom, Peters identified the heat emanating from South African oil refineries as a key source of renewable energy.
Eskom has identified the issue of generator transformers, the construction of a new 440 kV line around Luanda as well as public private partnerships as key aspects to address with Angolan officials. The plan will be put in place by the end of October.
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