On February 2, 2024, João Baptista Borges, serving as the Minister of Energy and Water, reported on the construction milestones achieved by the Caculo Cabaça hydroelectric dam project located in the Cambambe area, Kwanza Norte, after a meeting with the project’s Technical Committee. He noted substantial progress in the digging of the water return tunnels and the generator hall access tunnel, which are each five kilometers long and 16 meters wide, designed to house the turbines. According to Borges, one tunnel has reached a construction completion of about 22%, while the other is at 11%.
Borges discussed the complex nature of drilling these tunnels, noting that encountered challenges might lead to delays in other parts of the hydroelectric project, necessitating adjustments to the schedule to meet pre-established deadlines. These delays were attributed to unexpected technical and geological issues faced during the project’s initial planning phase, along with financial setbacks, including delayed payments to inspectors and designers essential for maintaining the project’s momentum. Borges assured that efforts were being made to resolve these financial issues through discussions with the Ministry of Finance and called for continuous engagement among all stakeholders to avoid future delays.
The project director, Augusto Chico, reported that the project has reached 14.07% of its physical completion and 15% in terms of financial expenditure, with a notable amount of infrastructure work completed, which is expected to facilitate faster construction of the dam. The initiation of electricity production from the Caculo Cabaça dam is anticipated in October 2026 with the first turbine coming online.
Initiated in 2017 with an investment of over five billion dollars, the project has employed roughly 2,500 workers, blending local and international talents. It has received significant financial support, including a 4.5 billion dollar contribution from the People’s Republic of China for the civil engineering aspect of the dam and its transport infrastructure, and a 1.02 billion dollar investment from Germany for the acquisition and installation of electromechanical equipment.
The Caculo Cabaça hydroelectric project is poised to contribute 2,172 megawatts (MW) of power, enhancing the network of dams along the middle section of the Kwanza River, in conjunction with the Cambambe (Cuanza Norte), Capanda, and Laúca (Malanje) facilities. The project’s construction is being carried out by the China Gezhouba Group, a government-owned enterprise. During his visit, Borges also reviewed the progress of construction activities at the site, including the main power station, tunnels, dam, construction sites, bridges, and other critical infrastructure.
