Minister considers Mabubas dam a gain

Angola, Caxito – The start of operation of the Mabubas hydro-electric dam re-inaugurated  Monday in northern Bengo province is a gain for the country, in view of the energetic benefits it will provide to the population.This was said Monday in the locality of Mabubas by Angolan minister of State for Economic Coordination, Manuel Vicente, during the ceremony of inauguration of the hydro-electric dam.He on the occasion praised the Government’s effort in implementing the project. The minister said that he last visited the location 26 years ago, adding that the dam remained out of service for 20 years and was restored thanks to the work done by the Executive led by president José Eduardo dos Santos. Manuel Vicente said the province of Bengo and the country as a whole will gain with the operation of the dam as the region was supplied with power generated by thermal sources that were too expensive for the State and environmentally unfriendly. According to him, hydro-electric power is clean, healthy, trustable and safer. He added that with the start of the dam, the population of Caxito, capital city of Bengo province, gains self-sufficiency in terms of electricity supply that will lead to the development of economic activity. The minister also announced that the Executive, together with Bengo Government, are working on the electrification of the whole province. He stated as well that Luanda will also benefit from the Mabubas dam power surplus, as the capital of the country is faced with a power supply deficit.   The Mabubas hydro-electric dam was destroyed twice during the armed conflict, in 1980 and 1992, when it had a 17 MW capacity that has been elevated to 26,8 MW. The ceremony of re-inauguration was witnessed by the minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, the secretary of State of Energy, Joaquim Ventura, Bengo governor, João Bernardo de Miranda, national directors of the sector, church officials, chieftains and guests.