Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based global clean energy company, has officially secured a power purchase agreement (PPA) for its 150-megawatt Quipungo Solar Photovoltaic (PV) project in Angola. 

This marks Masdar’s first contracted site in the country and the initial phase of the broader Project Royal Sable, a 500-megawatt renewable energy programme planned for southern Angola.

The agreement, signed with Angola’s state-owned electricity transmission company, Rede Nacional de Transporte de Electricidade (RNT-EP), was executed on the sidelines of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) General Assembly during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. 

Masdar’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Al Ramahi, emphasized the strategic importance of the project, stating that Africa’s rapid economic growth requires reliable and affordable energy. “The Quipungo PPA demonstrates how long-term partnerships and structured offtake arrangements can accelerate utility-scale renewables while supporting national energy ambitions,” he said.

The Quipungo plant will deliver 150 MW of clean solar power, enough to supply electricity to roughly 300,000 homes once operational. The wider Project Royal Sable programme, which will be developed in phases across three locations in southern Angola, aims for a total installed capacity of 500 MW. 

Beyond energy output, the project is expected to create more than 2,000 direct jobs during construction and operations, offering a significant boost to the local economy.

Masdar’s expansion in Angola forms part of a broader African strategy. The company, through its joint venture Infinity Power, already operates 1.3 GW of solar and onshore wind projects across South Africa, Egypt, and Senegal. 

In addition, Masdar has a 13.8 GW pipeline of projects, including battery storage and green hydrogen facilities, in various stages of development. The addition of Project Royal Sable contributes to Masdar’s global goal of achieving 100 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with more than half already operational or under construction.

While the full 500 MW programme will be rolled out in multiple phases, the Quipungo Solar PV project is the anchor phase, expected to commence construction shortly following the PPA signing. 

Commercial operation is projected to begin in the mid-2027 timeframe, aligning with Masdar’s broader regional expansion plans. The phased approach allows Angola to gradually integrate utility-scale solar into the southern grid, strengthening energy security and providing predictable supply for industrial, commercial, and residential users.

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The Quipungo project is more than a solar plant. It represents a model for turning national energy plans into actionable projects, supported through IRENA’s Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) platform. 

According to IRENA Director-General Francesco LaCamera, such agreements improve investor confidence in Africa’s energy transition while expanding access to reliable electricity for local communities.

Masdar’s initiative also fits within the broader UAE-Angola economic partnership. Bilateral non-oil trade between the two countries rose nearly 30% to $1.4 billion in the first half of 2025, and both nations have signed agreements to expand trade further, with a goal of reaching $10 billion annually by 2033. 

Project Royal Sable is therefore not only an energy project but a strategic economic collaboration, linking renewable energy development with industrial growth and regional stability.

The Quipungo Solar PV project, with its 150 MW capacity, phased integration into the 500 MW Project Royal Sable programme, and expected operations by mid-2027, illustrates how structured long-term agreements and strategic investment can accelerate clean energy adoption in Africa.