The 12th Council of the Catholic Church “Dom Armando Amaral dos Santos,” organized by the Ministry of Energy and Water, took place in Benguela province from September 27th to 28th, with the theme “Energy and Water: Towards Expansion and Improved Quality of Services.” The opening remarks were delivered by His Excellency the Governor of Benguela Province, Luís Manuel da Fonseca Nunes, expressing gratitude for selecting the province as the event’s host and pledging cooperation to address the population’s needs, particularly focusing on new investment projects for the growing industries in the region.
Minister for Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges, accompanied by the Secretaries of State for Energy and Water, emphasized the importance of cooperation and support from the Benguela Provincial Government in realizing sector projects. He highlighted the necessity of attracting investments and public-private partnerships, optimizing the market model, tariff suitability, and ensuring the sustainability of public companies. Minister Borges stressed the pivotal role of improving revenue collection and reducing costs in this process.
The event aimed to assess the implementation status of the 11th Consultative Council’s recommendations and gather sector professionals. Key aspects included reviewing the Sector Action Plan 2018-2022 to enhance access and service quality, addressing the market model, tariff efficiency, and company sustainability to attract private investment and establish public-private partnerships. Additionally, the Sector’s Action Plan for 2023-2027 was presented.
Parallel events featured visits to the Biópio photovoltaic plant managed by PRODEL and the inauguration of ENDE’s Regional Dispatch Center in Lobito, Benguela province. Minister João Baptista Borges highlighted the significance of the Dispatch Center for improving the efficiency of the National Electricity Distribution Company’s customer service, aligning with the Strategy for the Technological Evolution of Distribution Services.
During the ceremony, Minister Borges presented a three-wheeled motorcycle to José André, demonstrating solidarity and urgent support for his physical disability. Certificates and gifts were distributed to participants. The event saw the presence of Vice-Governors from Benguela, Bié, Cunene, and Lunda Sul provinces, along with representatives from various ministries, central and dependent bodies, sector companies’ Boards of Directors, Provincial Offices of Infrastructure and Technical Services, partners, local authorities, and virtual attendees via the Zoom platform, totaling 224 participants.
