The national drought mitigation programme, which includes the N’Ompombo Dam project, is anticipated to improve water security for 1.5 million people by 2030
Angola commits over $1 billion to tackle devastating southern drought
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Odebrecht Angola is set to enhance water provision for over 370,000 residents in Huíla province, southern Angola, through the development of a dam and a comprehensive water distribution network. This initiative forms part of the Angolan government’s response to recurrent drought conditions in the region, according to a local media report.
Odebrecht is tasked with the construction of the N’Ompombo Dam on the Caculuvar River, alongside the necessary water supply infrastructure for the municipality of Gambos, specifically serving the communities of Chibemba and Chiange.
Valued at roughly US$325 million, the N’Ompombo Dam project is being executed in a consortium that includes Bento Pedroso Construções. This specific lot is contained within a wider national drought mitigation package structured across 12 lots and totalling US$1.6 billion. The overall drought alleviation scheme was officially launched on 30 April, aims to cover the provinces of Huíla, Namibe, and Cunene, and is scheduled for completion by 2030.
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The full programme represents an estimated investment of more than one billion dollars and is designed to benefit approximately 1.5 million people by its 2030 deadline. Planned infrastructure includes various elements such as reservoirs, boreholes, pumping stations, adduction channels, and water intake and distribution systems.
Currently, existing systems deliver only about 45,300 cubic metres of water daily, which only partially meets the local population’s requirements. Once the programme is in operation, it is projected to directly assist over 370,000 individuals, provide water for around 725,000 cattle, and enable the irrigation of up to 10,000 hectares of agricultural land.
The company stressed that the construction work will involve substantial use of Angolan labour and technical capability. Odebrecht, originally a Brazilian construction and engineering conglomerate established in 1944, has had operations in Angola for several decades.
