Angolan President João Lourenço has inaugurated two new dams in Cunene province as part of a significant national project to mitigate drought.
New dams mark major progress in Angola’s water infrastructure
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President João Lourenço inaugurated the Ndúe and Calucuve dams in Cunene province this Saturday, marking a pivotal development for Angola’s water infrastructure. These two projects are central to the government’s wider programme aimed at combating the severe effects of drought in one of the country’s driest regions, serving as a critical upgrade to Angola’s water infrastructure and resource management.
The Ndúe dam was constructed by Sinohydro Angola, with the associated feeder canal executed by the Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau Angola, according to multiple media reports. Meanwhile, the Calucuve dam was built by the Omatapalo/Mota-Engil consortium, with the feeder canal awarded to the China Road and Bridge Corporation. Official figures disclose that the Ndúe dam represents an investment of approximately US$192 million, whilst the Calucuve dam estimates are around US$177 million.
Expanding the reach of Angola’s water infrastructure
Together, these new facilities significantly enhance the nation’s capacity. The Ndúe dam boasts a storage capacity of 170 million cubic metres of water, and the Calucuve dam can store 141 million cubic metres. Combined, these developments are expected to directly benefit more than 55,000 inhabitants and are linked to around 185 kilometres of canals, further solidifying the stability of Angola’s water infrastructure.
These new dams join the Cafu canal, which was inaugurated in April 2022 and built by Sinohydro. The existing canal, which stretches around 160 kilometres, was designed to benefit 235,000 people across the municipalities of Ombadja, Cuanhama and Namacunde, providing essential water for 250,000 animals and irrigating 5,000 hectares of farmland.
[See more: Sinohydro Angola secures contract for Capanda dam rehabilitation project]
During his visit to Cunene, President Lourenço emphasised that these structures will bolster water access for communities and livestock alike, which should help to reduce conflicts amongst livestock farmers.
The overarching Programme to Combat the Effects of Drought in Southern Angola aims for the construction of five dams in total, with a comprehensive investment estimated at US$4.2 billion. Looking ahead, the President noted that after the completion of works in Cunene, similar projects are scheduled to proceed in the provinces of Namibe and Huíla, ensuring the continued modernisation of Angola’s water infrastructure across the region.
