Luanda — An agreement for the construction of the Baynes Binational Hydroelectric Plant between Angola and Namibia will be signed in the coming days in Windhoek between the two states, ANGOP has learnt.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Energy and Water, the signing will take place between November 17 and 19.
The Baynes Binational Hydroelectric Plant is located on the Cunene River, on the international border stretch between Angola and Namibia, around 48 kilometers downstream the Epupa falls and 200 km downstream from Ruacaná, where the river crosses the Baynes gorge.
The Baynes hydroelectric plant, according to the document, will have an installed capacity of 860 MW, with 4 units of 215 MW, 430 MW for each of the countries, guaranteeing the reinforcement of the integration of Angola's electricity grid into the grid of the southern African region.
The project is of paramount importance for the progress of the southern regions of Angola and northern Namibia and to strengthen bilateral relations, since, in addition to electricity production, it will promote the development of these regions in terms of agriculture, cattle breeding, and tourism and job creation.
It will also allow both states to create new business opportunities in the industrial and transport sectors during the construction phase, with emphasis on the Port of Namibe.
The agreement includes, among other things, the formalization of the decision and commitment by the governments to jointly build the hydroelectric plant, the establishment of conditions for the implementation of this project, in accordance with its principles and provisions, as well as its respective complementary protocols.
It provides support for the design of a specific legal and institutional framework for the project, necessary to create and establish the organizational, administrative, financial and contractual structure for the development phase (construction), as well as for the exploration stage (operation and maintenance).
To mitigate the environmental effects of the flows generated during peak periods, it is also planned to build a regularization dam about 12 kilometers downstream from the main dam, with an installed capacity of 21 MW and an estimated completion time of five years. VC/AMP
