KEY POINTS
- Angola signed a PPA for a 150MW solar project in Huila.
- The deal anchors the first phase of a planned 500MW programme.
- Masdar’s entry signals growing investor confidence in renewables.
Angola has secured a power purchase agreement for a 150-megawatt solar project, marking a key step in its push to expand renewable generation and strengthen grid capacity in the south of the country.
PPA anchors wider solar rollout
The agreement was concluded with state-owned off-taker Rede Nacional de Transporte de Electricidade, known as RNT-EP, and signed on Sunday, 11 January. The signing took place on the sidelines of the International Renewable Energy Agency General Assembly during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, bringing together senior government and energy officials.
The project is located in Huila Province, where the Quipungo solar photovoltaic site forms the first contracted phase of Project Royal Sable. The broader programme is planned as a 500-megawatt, multi-site development aimed at reinforcing Angola’s southern power grid while supporting national sustainable development goals.
By anchoring the first commercial project under Project Royal Sable, the PPA sets the framework for a phased rollout across three sites, according to parties involved in the agreement. Officials said the structure provides a clear pathway for scaling capacity while reducing execution risk for subsequent phases.
Once fully developed, the 500-megawatt programme is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs. It is also projected to supply clean electricity to about 300,000 homes and lift overall generation capacity in Angola’s southern grid, where supply constraints have long limited industrial and residential demand.
The PPA was signed by Mauro Hernany Ferrerira Martins, RNT-EP’s executive director for market operations and regulatory affairs. Senior officials in attendance included Angola’s Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, and IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera.
Boost to bankable renewables
La Camera said the Quipungo agreement showed how national energy strategies can be translated into bankable infrastructure projects. He added that the facility would help strengthen Angola’s power system and expand access to clean, reliable electricity, while reinforcing investor confidence in Africa’s energy transition.
According to ESI Africa, the Quipungo project is Masdar’s first power purchase agreement in Angola. Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC is developing Project Royal Sable as part of its wider renewable energy activities across emerging markets.
Masdar Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said Africa’s rapid population and economic growth will depend on affordable and secure energy supply. He said long-term partnerships and structured off-take arrangements remain critical to accelerating utility-scale renewable deployment.
According to Al Ramahi, the Quipungo PPA demonstrates how coordinated planning can support national clean energy ambitions, economic development and job creation, while delivering reliable and affordable power to local communities.
The wider solar programme aligns with Angola’s strategy to diversify its energy mix, improve grid resilience and expand electricity access through large-scale renewable deployment. Officials said the agreement adds momentum to efforts to position renewables as a core pillar of the country’s long-term power sector development.
