Portugal’s energy giant EDP (Energias de Portugal) is to invest €4 million in two electricity power stations (solar and hydro) on the island of Príncipe.
The objective in the first phase is to build a solar powered park and the second a mini-hydro-electric power station, taking advantage of the water resources on the island.
A committee from EDP met with various government officials from the small African islands republic on Friday and representatives of various institutions including the São Tomé Electricity and Water Company (Emae) and the General Regulation Agency (Ager) to study the project.
“It proved a very pleasant meeting in which the Prime Minister, Jorge Bom Jesus, was present to participate in a frank discussion as we are available to support and invest in this project,” said a spokesperson for EDP in an interview with Jornal Económico.
The goal is to bring access to electricity to the entire population as well as promoting and supporting new business which will set up in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe.
The EDP project to construct two power facilities on the Island of Príncipe is part of a development agreement signed by the government of the former Prime Minister, Patrice Trovoada, which never moved forward.
“The discussions have been somewhat tricky” said the spokesperson, Guilherme Pereira. “People have changed job posts within government entities but we are on the right road,” he said.
The contract signed by the current government will bring a “clean and sustainable energy solution based on renewable energy to the island of Príncipe.”
Article by Essential Business – www.essential-business.pt
