The role of medium sized hydro projects in Angola.

Hydropower is an important driver of growth in Angola’s easter provinces.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions  

During the 2023 WhyAfrica Overland Road Trip, we visited the Chiumbe-Dala Hydroelectric Power Plant. Chiumbe-Dala is located at the Chiumbe Falls between Luena, the capital of the Moxico Province, and Saurimo, the capital city of the Lunda Sul Province in Angola.

With a modest generating capacity of 12MW, Chiumbe-Dala is classified as a medium-sized regional hydropower station. Yet its local impact is significant.

Angola currently has about 13 hydropower stations with substantial expansions in the pipeline. The new Caculo Cabaça hydroelectric project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Developing a mega project

Caculo Cabaça, located on the Kwanza River, will have a capacity of 2172 MW. This mega project is being develop at a construction cost of USD4.5-billion. It will rank as the second largest hydroelectric facility in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia’s   Grand Renaissance Dam is the largest.

Although mega projects like Caculo Cabaça are central to the development of the hinterland in Angola, small and medium sized plants have a critical role to play. They are scattered throughout the country, some of them old and in disuse.

Which brings us back to Chiumbe-Dala.

The Chiumbe Falls plunges about 60m over impressive rock formations into the Chiumbe River. Old and faded sign boards indicate that Chinese company Synohydro was the main contractor that implemented the project.

In 2014 China Eximbank signed a USD112-million loan agreement with the Government of Angola for the development of the Chiumbe-Dala Hydroelectric Power Plant and 110kV Luena Transmission Lines and Substations Project.

Chiumbe-Dala plays an important role in providing electricity to Angola’s less-developed eastern provinces and reducing dependence on diesel power generation.

Location in an important corridor

What makes Chiumbe-Dala interesting is its location in a corridor between Saurimo and Luena, a strategically important region in terms of critical minerals.

Angola has been actively promoting exploration for copper, Rare Earth Elements and gold across its eastern provinces.

In a remote region like eastern Angola, where infrastructure development lagged for decades because of a devastating civil war, even a relatively small hydropower plant can become the foundation for broader economic development.

As exploration expands and transport corridors such as the Lobito Corridor gain importance for mineral exports, access to dependable electricity could become one of the decisive factors attracting future mining investment into the region.

Image: The Chiumbe Falls is near the town of Dala in Angola. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica

The role of medium sized hydro projects in Angola