MCA Infrastructures Secures Funding for Solar Project in Angola

MCA Infrastructures has received £12.5 million in funding to purchase mobile construction equipment for a rural electrification project in Angola, supported by UK Export Finance. This initiative aims to deliver sustainable energy to over a million people. Collaborations with Dints International Ltd. and various UK suppliers are key to the project’s execution.

MCA Infrastructures SA, a subsidiary of the Portuguese contractor M.Couto Alves, S.A. (MCA) Group, has received new funding for purchasing mobile construction equipment essential for an energy project in Angola. This support from UK Export Finance (UKEF) facilitates the procurement of equipment valued at £12.5 million (approximately US$16.2 million) through Dints International Ltd., a supply and logistics firm.

The equipment to be acquired includes excavators, stackers, diggers, generators, cars, trucks, vans, and trailers. MCA Group, which undertakes various projects, operates as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, and this equipment will initially aid a rural electrification program in Angola, with potential deployment across other regions.

UKEF has issued a loan guarantee to Apple Bank, allowing the Portuguese contractor to finance this procurement via Dints. Dints has been operational for 18 years as a London-based project integrator, collaborating with buyers, suppliers, logistics providers, and financing partners.

Key UK-based suppliers involved in this project include Energy Group, Yorpower, and Kings Trailers. Stephen Peal, the group managing director of Yorpower, remarked, “It is an honour to be supporting the energy transition in Angola, which is a new territory for us.”

This rural electrification initiative is part of a broader plan aimed at enhancing energy access across Angola, ultimately set to provide sustainable power to over a million individuals. Additional support for this drive comes from financial institutions like Standard Chartered Bank and Export Credit Agency Euler Hermes.

In May 2024, MCA reported that approximately 44,000 solar panels were operational at the Luena Solar Park, supplying clean energy to over 55,000 residents. This facility, situated in Angola’s Moxico province, marks the fourth of seven solar parks that MCA is constructing. MCA noted that the new solar park will optimize renewable energy use and enhance system stability while reducing fuel consumption.

MCA is collaborating with the US company Sun Africa for this solar rollout project on behalf of the Angolan government, targeting a total capacity of 370 MW.

In summary, MCA Infrastructures is set to enhance its operations in Angola with the acquisition of essential mobile construction equipment supported by UKEF funding. This initiative is integral to a rural electrification program that aims to provide sustainable energy access to over one million people. Additionally, the collaboration with various UK suppliers and financing institutions further underscores the strategic partnership involved in this significant energy project.

Original Source: africanreview.com