Today, February 1st, saw Minister João Baptista Borges of the Energy and Water Ministry visit the Caculo Cabaça dam in Cuanza Norte province. His purpose was to oversee construction progress and lead the Project’s Steering and Monitoring Committee meeting.

To kick off his visit, the minister, accompanied by industry experts, conducted a thorough tour of the dam’s construction site.

The Caculo Cabaça dam, towering at 113 meters, will have a capacity of 2,172 MW, distributed across two plants. The reservoir will hold 92.6 hm³ of water, featuring five groups and a hydraulic circuit with a capacity of 1100 m³/s.

The project also includes two electrical substations of 400 kV and 220 kV linked to the main and ecological plants, respectively. It consists of three main elements: temporary river diversion, primary civil works, and the procurement, installation, and commissioning of electromechanical equipment. Construction is scheduled for 80 months. This endeavor aligns with the nation’s goal to bolster its electricity production capacity.

Of note, on May 20, 2023, President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço initiated the symbolic river diversion.

Regarding the workforce, out of 2,598 workers, 84.26% are nationals and 15.74% are expatriates. Construction began in August 2017, with commercial production slated to commence by the end of 2026.

Following the visit, the Steering and Monitoring Committee met to discuss contractual, technical, financial, and payment matters. Attendees included primary contractor CGGC, subcontractors Voith and the Griner/Omatapalo consortium, project inspectors, and other stakeholders.

In conclusion, Minister João Baptista Borges emphasized the utmost importance of adhering strictly to the construction timeline, highlighting the project’s strategic significance for the country. Energy generation is set to commence by the end of 2026. João Baptista Borges João Baptista Borges