Chinese-funded work on enlarging the Luachimo hydroelectric power station in the northeastern Angolan province of Lunda Norte is due to be finished this year,  Angop reports, citing Lunda Norte Governor Ernesto Muangala.

The Angolan state-run news agency quotes Mr Muangala as saying last week that the work is 78 per cent complete.

He said enlargement would increase the capacity of the power station to 34 MW from 8.4 MW, allowing it to supply the districts of Chitato, Cambulo and Lucapa.

The  enlargement is part of an effort to reduce the dependence of Lunda Norte on electricity generated by burning fuel, and the authorities have commissioned studies of the feasibility of building solar farms in the Cambulo, Cuango, Caungula, Lucapa, Lóvua, Cuilo and Xá-Muteba districts, the report quotes Mr Muangala as saying.

The cost of the enlargement work is US$212 million, Angop says.