MCA Infrastructures Acquires Equipment to Boost Angolan Energy Project
MCA Infrastructures SA has secured funding for mobile construction equipment valued at £12.5 million to support a major energy project in Angola. UK Export Finance is facilitating this through Dints International Ltd. The equipment will aid a rural electrification initiative aimed at providing sustainable power to over a million people.
MCA Infrastructures SA, a subsidiary of the M.Couto Alves, S.A. Group from Portugal, has obtained funding to acquire mobile construction equipment for an important energy initiative in Angola. UK Export Finance (UKEF) has endorsed the purchase of equipment valued at £12.5 million (approximately US$16.2 million) through Dints International Ltd., a supplier specializing in logistics and equipment.
The procurement includes a diverse range of machinery such as excavators, stackers, diggers, generators, as well as vehicles like cars, trucks, vans, and trailers. MCA Group functions as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, focusing on a prominent rural electrification project in Angola, where the newly acquired equipment will be first deployed.
A loan guarantee issued by UKEF to Apple Bank facilitates financing for the project. Established 18 years ago, Dints International Ltd. acts as a project integrator based in London, uniting buyers, suppliers, logistics providers, and financial stakeholders.
UK suppliers involved in the project include Energy Group, Yorpower, and Kings Trailers, a transport specialist. 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.”
The rural electrification scheme is vital for enhancing energy accessibility across Angola, aiming to provide sustainable power to over one million individuals. Financial backing for this electrification initiative is additionally supported by Standard Chartered Bank and Export Credit Agency Euler Hermes.
In May 2024, MCA reported that 44,000 solar panels had been successfully installed at the Luena Solar Park in Angola, providing clean energy to more than 55,000 residents. This development in Angola’s Moxico province marks the fourth of seven planned solar parks by the Portuguese company.
MCA noted that the new solar infrastructure, working alongside a newly established interconnector between a Wartsilla thermal power plant and Luena SE, would enhance renewable energy utilization, stabilize the power system, and decrease overall fuel consumption. In collaboration with the US firm Sun Africa, MCA’s solar rollout project aims for an eventual total capacity of 370 MW.
In summary, MCA Infrastructures SA’s recent acquisition of mobile construction equipment supported by UK Export Finance indicates significant progress in Angola’s energy sector. This initiative, particularly the rural electrification project, will provide essential energy access to millions. Collaborations with various partners and stakeholders underscore the concerted efforts toward sustainable power solutions in Angola.
Original Source: africanreview.com
