The president of Angolan utility Empresa Nacional de Distribuição de Electricidade (ENDE), Ruth Safeca, has switched on an electricity distribution network in the northern Angolan province of Bengo on Monday, Angop reports.

The Angolan state-run news agency quotes Ms Safeca as saying China contributed to the US$8 million cost of the network.

The report says the network connects one big substation with a capacity to handle 20 megawatts and eight smaller ones, which will supply electricity to 750 households at first, and over 4,500 eventually, in the town of Musseque Kicoca.

The electricity will be cheaper than that supplied by the costly private generators and distributors – whose monthly fees could reach 50,000 kwanza (US$147.5) – that households use now, thus greatly improving people’s lives, Angop quotes Bengo Governor Mara Quiosa as saying.