MCA Infrastructures Secures Funding for Solar Project in Angola

MCA Infrastructures has secured £12.5 million in funding from UK Export Finance for mobile construction equipment to enhance energy projects in Angola. The equipment will support a rural electrification program aimed at providing sustainable power to over a million residents. Key partners include Dints International Ltd. and various UK-based suppliers, with an overarching goal of improving energy access and capacity in the region.

MCA Infrastructures SA, a subsidiary of M.Couto Alves, S.A. (MCA) Group, has received additional funding to purchase mobile construction equipment essential for one of its notable energy projects in Angola. The support from UK Export Finance (UKEF) facilitates the acquisition of equipment valued at £12.5 million (approximately US$16.2 million) through Dints International Ltd., a logistics expert.

The newly acquired equipment includes excavators, stackers, diggers, generators, as well as various vehicles such as cars, trucks, vans, and trailers. MCA Group serves as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor across multiple initiatives, notably a rural electrification program in Angola. This equipment will initially support this program before being redistributed for other regional projects.

A loan guarantee provided by UKEF to Apple Bank enables the Portuguese contractor working in Angola to finance the purchase through Dints. Established 18 years ago, Dints acts as a project integrator in London, connecting buyers, suppliers, logistics, and funding partners.

UK suppliers involved in the project include Energy Group, Yorpower, and transport specialists, Kings Trailers. Stephen Peal, the group managing director at Yorpower, stated, “It is an honour to be supporting the energy transition in Angola, which is a new territory for us.”

The rural electrification initiative, which will utilize the newly acquired machinery, aims to expand energy access in Angola and provide sustainable power to over a million individuals. This effort receives additional backing from Standard Chartered Bank and Export Credit Agency Euler Hermes.

In May 2024, MCA announced the installation of approximately 44,000 solar panels at the Luena Solar Park, benefitting over 55,000 individuals. This park is the fourth of seven planned solar facilities across Angola, situated in the Moxico province. MCA indicated that the park, alongside a new interconnector with a Wartsila thermal plant, would enhance renewable energy utilization and system stability while reducing fuel consumption.

Collaborating with the U.S. firm Sun Africa for the Angolan government, MCA’s solar project will ultimately have a capacity of 370 MW, contributing significantly to the region’s renewable energy landscape.

In summary, MCA Infrastructures SA’s recent acquisition of mobile construction equipment, supported by UK Export Finance, represents a significant advancement in the company’s efforts to enhance energy infrastructure in Angola. This initiative underlines the commitment to sustainable energy solutions and the expansion of electricity access for millions. The collaboration with key financial and logistics partners marks a pivotal moment in executing this ambitious electrification program.

Original Source: africanreview.com