A New Chapter for Sino-African Cooperation: the Largest Hydropower in Africa Put into Construction

On August 4 Angola local time, the Commencement Ceremony of Caculo Cabaca Hydropower Station in Angola, the currently largest hydropower station in Africa undertaken by CGGC, a core member of CEEC, was held in Berbei City, Kuanza Province, Angola. The Commencement Ceremony was presided over by João Baptista Borges, Minister of Ministry of Energy and Water Resources. Among the attendees were Angola President Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, Vice President Vincent, Army Office Director Gupalipa, Livelihood Office Director Netu, and a total of over 10 governmental senior officials from Angola, Chinese Ambassador to Angola Cui Aimin, CGGC Deputy Manager Ren Jianguo, President of CGGC Three Georges Zhou Jianhua, CGGC Vice General Manager and Chief Engineer Liu Huailiang, and a total of over 300 participants. The commencement of the Project marks the active response of CGGC to the 'Belt and Road' Initiative, opens a new chapter for the businesses of Chinese enterprises in hydropower construction in Africa, and further enhances the friendship between China and Angola.

　　Scene of the Commencement Ceremony

　　Angola President lays the foundation for the hydropower station

Angola President Takes Group Photos with Chinese and Angola Representatives Attending the Groundbreaking Ceremony

In his speech, Minister Borges introduced the installed capacity, annual power generation of local power network, Angola's mid- and long-term strategic planning as of 2025, as well as the structural role of Caculo Cabaca Hydropower Station. He noted that Caculo Cabaca Hydropower Station, as the largest hydropower station in Angola, and even the whole Africa, is of great significance for the economic construction of Angola in the future. It will play an active role in eliminating the power shortage, employment, etc. Meanwhile, Minister Borges extended his sincere gratitude to the Chinese Government and enterprises for their great support for the development of Angola.

Cui Aimin, Chinese Ambassador to Angola, noted in his speech that China is the largest trade partner of Angola, while Angola is the second largest trade partner and the largest country of origin in Africa. So far, Angola is one of the countries in Africa that establish the most extensive cooperation with China in investment, financing and infrastructure construction. The accumulative loans lent to Angola by China reached about USD 50 billion, covering all the sectors in the field of infrastructure.

CGGC Deputy General Manager Ren Jianguo noted that CGGC will uphold the concept of win-win cooperation to build Caculo Cabaca Hydropower Station into a superior project, make contributions to the development of energy, power, social economy, and improvement of infrastructures as well as people's livelihood in Angola, and strengthen the friendship between China and Angola.

It is learnt that Caculo Cabaca Hydropower Station is currently the largest hydropower station undertaken by Chinese enterprise in Africa, which is hailed as 'the Three Gorges in Africa'. After completion, it can satisfy over 50% of the power demand of Angola, and significantly promote local economic and social development, so it is of far-reaching historical and international significance.

With a total contract amount of USD 4.532 billion and a planned installed capacity of 2172MW, the Project is planned to be completed within 80 months, and will offer about 10,000 jobs in peak time. CGGC will also take charge of four-year operation and maintenance, and train a batch of professional power station operation, management and technical talents for Angola.

Renowned for its Three Georges Project, the world's largest hydro-complex, CGGC is an international competitive transnational group specialized in eight major businesses of investment, construction, environmental protection, real estate, cement, civil explosion, equipment manufacturing and finance. In recent years, CGGC witnessed rapid growth in its international businesses, and has formed relatively perfect global market layout, with over 100 branches distributed in five continents. So far, CGGC has over 100 international projects under construction all over the world, and has won the title of 'TOP 10 Chinese Enterprises Touching the Africa', making positive contributions to the strengthening of friendship between China and Africa.