A staff member is seen at the Belo Monte substation in Luanda, Angola, June 5, 2019.(Xinhua/Wu Changwei)
LUANDA, June 8 (Xinhua) -- A power project in Angola undertaken by Chinese firm is expected to provide electricity to 300,000 households and benefit more than 2.5 million people.
The handover ceremony of the Belo Monte substation in the electrification and household connection project in Luanda, Angola, contracted by a Chinese enterprise, was held on Wednesday in Cacuaco, Luanda province.
According to Li Xunfeng, chief representative of Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) in Angola, the project in Luanda mainly includes the construction of nine substations and related supporting projects.
At present, all substations have been put into operation. Some of the households connection work is underway, and the project is expected to be completed in August this year.
Angola's minister of Energy and Water Joao Borges said at the handover ceremony that the Luanda province electrification and household connection project is part of the Angolan National Development Plan, which mainly guarantees the national electricity supply in Angola.
After the completion of the project, the distribution capacity of Luanda province will be greatly improved, and 300,000 households will be electrified, improving the lives of residents and benefit the local people, said Borges.
"It is expected that more than 2.5 million people will benefit. At the same time, the project will create new jobs and promote local social development," Borges added.
The Chinese ambassador to Angola, Gong Tao, said that the project is a microcosm of cooperation in the field of financing and infrastructure construction in China and Angola.
In recent years, Chinese enterprises have repaired or built 2,800 km of railways, and 20,000 km of roads in Angola, and built more than 100,000 sets of social housing, more than 100 schools, and more than 50 hospitals, Gong stressed.
It laid a solid foundation for the country's economic and social development, according to Gong.
The electrification and household connection project in Luanda is located in the provinces of Luanda and Bengo. The project started in October 2016 with a contract period of 34 months and a contract value of some 675 million U.S. dollars.