MCA Infrastructures Secures Funding for Angolan Solar Projects
MCA Infrastructures SA has obtained £12.5 million in funding for mobile construction equipment to propel its solar projects in Angola. Supported by UK Export Finance and collaborating with UK-based suppliers, this effort aims to enhance rural electrification and ultimately provide sustainable energy to over a million people.
MCA Infrastructures SA, a subsidiary of M.Couto Alves, S.A. (MCA) Group, has received funding for mobile construction equipment to enhance its solar project in Angola. UK Export Finance (UKEF) is backing the procurement of £12.5 million (approximately US$16.2 million) worth of equipment through Dints International Ltd., which specializes in supply and logistics.
The equipment purchased will include excavators, stackers, diggers, generators, as well as vehicles such as cars, trucks, vans, and trailers. MCA Group serves as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor on numerous projects, including a significant rural electrification initiative in Angola where this equipment will be initially deployed.
Financing accessibility has been made possible through a loan guarantee by UKEF to Apple Bank, enabling the contractor to finance new equipment via Dints. Dints, based in London for 18 years, connects buyers, suppliers, logistics providers, and funding partners for project integrations.
Various UK suppliers are contributing to the project, including Energy Group, Yorpower, and Kings Trailers. Stephen Peal, Yorpower’s group managing director, remarked, “It is an honour to be supporting the energy transition in Angola, which is a new territory for us.”
This electrification scheme is vital for increasing energy access in Angola and aims to provide sustainable power to over a million people. The financing for this initiative is further backed by Standard Chartered Bank and Euler Hermes, an export credit agency.
In May 2024, MCA announced the activation of around 44,000 solar panels at the Luena Solar Park in Moxico province, which will provide clean energy for over 55,000 individuals. This facility is the fourth of seven parks being developed by the company. MCA indicated that, alongside a new interconnector linking a Wartsilla power plant and Luena SE, the solar park will enhance renewable energy usage and overall system stability while decreasing fuel consumption.
MCA is collaborating with US-based Sun Africa on this solar project for the Angolan government, targeting a total capacity of 370 MW upon completion.
MCA Infrastructures SA has secured funding and new equipment to facilitate solar energy projects in Angola, significantly contributing to rural electrification efforts. The support from UK Export Finance and collaboration with various UK suppliers underscores the project’s scale and impact. With the deployment of solar technology and backing from banks, this initiative aims to provide clean power to millions, further advancing Angola’s energy sector transformation.
Original Source: africanreview.com
