The Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, was in the Cuanza Norte province today, February 1st, specifically at the Caculo Cabaça dam, to assess the progress of the works and preside over the meeting of the Project Steering and Monitoring Committee.
At the start of the day, the minister, accompanied by sector technicians, conducted a detailed guided tour of the dam works.
The Caculo Cabaça dam, which stands 113 meters tall, will have a nominal capacity of 2,172 MW, distributed across two power stations. The reservoir has a useful volume of 92.6 hm³, equipped with five groups and a hydraulic circuit with a nominal capacity of 1100 m³/s.
The project also includes two electrical substations of 400 kV and 220 kV, associated with the main and ecological power stations, respectively. The project consists of three major components: temporary river diversion, main civil works, and the supply, assembly, and commissioning of electromechanical equipment. The construction period is 80 months. This project is part of the country’s program to increase electric power production capacity.
It is worth noting that on May 20, 2023, the President of the Republic, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, initiated the symbolic river diversion.
In terms of labor, out of 2,598 workers, 84.26% are nationals and 15.74% are expatriates. Construction began in August 2017, and commercial production is expected to start at the end of 2026.
After the visit, the Project Steering and Monitoring Committee meeting was held, where contractual, technical, financial, and payment issues were discussed. Attendees included the main contractor CGGC, subcontractors Voith and the Griner/Omatapalo consortium, project inspectors, and other guests.
Finally, Minister João Baptista Borges emphasized the need to strictly adhere to the project timeline, highlighting the strategic importance of this project for the country, with energy generation expected to commence at the end of 2026. João Baptista Borges João Baptista Borges