Minister of Energy and Water
João Baptista Borges, born on January 4, 1964, in Ingombota, a municipality in the metropolitan area of Luanda province, is a highly regarded Angolan academic and statesman. He has held the position of Minister of Energy and Water since 2011, serving under the administrations of Presidents José Eduardo dos Santos and João Lourenço. Additionally, he has been a member of the Political Bureau of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) since June 17, 1998. Impressively, Minister Borges is multilingual, fluent in English, French, and Spanish.
Education and Training
Regarding his educational background, João Baptista Borges completed an Intermediate Course in Electricity at the Makarenko Polytechnic Institute in 1983. In 1991, he earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from the prestigious Agostinho Neto University. Later, in 2011, he furthered his academic pursuits by pursuing a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the renowned Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal.
Professional Journey
Throughout his professional journey, Minister Borges has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to public service. He commenced his career as a trainee mechanical engineer at ENE/North Regional Directorate immediately following his graduation in 1991. Leveraging his passion for teaching and his exceptional academic background, he assumed a professorship at the Faculty of Engineering at Agostinho Neto University. Concurrently, he took on various roles, including that of Head of the MV/LV Distribution Network Rehabilitation Project at Luanda EDEL EP from 1991 to 1993.
In 1999, his career trajectory led him to the role of Deputy General Manager of the Investment Area at EDEL EP, a position he held until 1999. In 2000, he ascended to the role of Administrator and Deputy General Manager of the Technical Area at EDEL EP, a position he occupied until 2005. In 2002, he was promoted to the position of Chairman of the Board of EDEL EP, a post he held until 2008 when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Energy, recognizing his exceptional merits and capabilities.
Governmental Experience
Minister Borges has held various significant governmental positions throughout his distinguished career. He served as Deputy Minister of Energy from 2008 to 2010, after which he was promoted to the position of Secretary of State for Energy, a role he held until 2011 when he assumed his current position as Minister of Energy and Water.
His active involvement in numerous events and conferences is testament to his dedication to the energy and water sectors. For instance, he participated in the inauguration of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) in Luanda’s Municipality of Viana. Supported by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), this center is dedicated to coordinating renewable energy and energy efficiency policies in the ECCAS region.
Minister Borges has been instrumental in the National Water and Sanitation Forum (FONAS – 17/03/2023), where his leadership and expertise played a decisive role in achieving the forum’s objectives. His contributions extend to the restructuring of the state’s business sector, the development of the legal and regulatory framework for the energy sector, and the formulation of the Energy and Water Plan for the period of 2012-2017.
As Secretary of State for Energy, he took charge of coordinating the preparation of the National Energy Security Plan and served as the coordinator of the Program for Strengthening Generation Capacity nationwide. During his tenure as Deputy Minister, he oversaw the program aimed at bolstering power generation capacity specifically for Luanda, with a targeted increase of 300 MW.
Impressive Achievements
Minister João Baptista Borges‘ extensive experience, expertise, and unwavering dedication have positioned him as a key figure in Angola’s governance and development, particularly in the vital domains of energy and water.
During his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Directors of EDEL from 2008 to 2010, Minister Borges demonstrated his remarkable organizational skills by successfully executing a comprehensive restructuring of the organization. His strategic acumen was evident as he updated the Strategic Plan, leading to significant accomplishments, including attracting 120,000 clients within a span of three years through the formalization of previously illegal consumers. He further expanded EDEL’s reach to include the Bengo province.
As Administrator and Deputy General Manager for the Technical Area of EDEL, Minister Borges played a pivotal role in developing the “EDEL Strategic Plan for 2002-2005.” In this capacity, he effectively coordinated all operational and maintenance activities within the company. Furthermore, he represented EDEL in the African Union of Electricity Producers and Distributors (UPDEA) and played a vital role in establishing agreements with other prominent companies such as EDP, LIGHT, and EDF.
In his role as Deputy General Manager of the Investment Area of EDEL-EP, Minister Borges capably oversaw the coordination of infrastructure projects and led the charge in restructuring the commercial area of EDEL, introducing the Pegasus commercial system. His leadership extended to supervising EDEL’s works area, which included overseeing the execution of network extension projects and the connection of new clients.
International Engagement
Minister João Baptista Borges has been an active participant in numerous international events, where he has shared his wisdom, experience, leadership, and dedication to vital sustainability issues. His notable appearances include the 6th Annual Germany-Africa Energy Forum in Hamburg from April 22 to 25, 2012, the Consultative Meeting on Water Supply and Sanitation Situation in Angola and Namibia in February 2012, and the International Conference and International Fair on Energy and Water from September 24 to 28, 2012. He also contributed to the High-Level Roundtable of the SADC Infrastructure Investment Summit in Maputo on June 27, 2013, the Meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for the Water Sector on May 30, 2013, and the Meeting of Ministers of ZANCOM, Standing Committee, and Hydrographic Management of the Zambezi Basin, also on May 30, 2013. Furthermore, he attended the International Conference on Hydraulic Technology in Israel from October 18 to 25, 2013, the International High-Level Conference on Water Cooperation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on August 20 and 21, 2013, and served as a member of the Angola Namibia Bilateral Commission on March 10-11, 2014.
United Nations (UN)
In his capacity as the Minister of Energy for the Republic of Angola, João Baptista Borges has emerged as a dedicated proponent of realizing the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda.
Energy Transition Dialogue
During the 9th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue held on March 28-29, Minister Borges delivered an exceptional speech highlighting the impressive strides made in renewable energy in Angola. He underscored the country’s capability to export green hydrogen in the form of ammonia by 2025, a substantial achievement that can be attributed to Borges’ leadership and strategic foresight.
Decarbonisation of Industry
Furthermore, Minister Borges actively engaged in a panel discussion on the “Decarbonisation of Industry – Success Stories and Challenges of the Global Hydrogen Economy.” His participation demonstrated his unwavering commitment to climate objectives and ensuring a reliable supply of clean energy for an equitable transition, particularly in developing nations.
UN Water Conference
In his role as the Minister of Energy and Water, Borges led the Angolan delegation to the UN Water Conference held in New York City from March 22-24, 2023. Representing President João Lourenço, he announced a substantial investment exceeding USD 4 billion aimed at addressing Angola’s water-related challenges, with a specific focus on regions in the south affected by drought. His compelling remarks at the conference shed light on the difficulties faced by these areas and underscored the significance of addressing them to avert human and material hardships.
ESIAP and PDISA
Minister João Baptista Borges also participated in a gathering of Water and Sanitation Ministers, organized by the World Bank Group alongside the UN Conference on Water – UN2023. He provided updates on ongoing projects financed by the World Bank, which encompassed the Electric Sector Access and Improvement Project (ESIAP), the Water Sector Institutional Development Project (PDISA), and the Bita project.
Government’s Strategic Vision
Furthermore, Minister Borges played a pivotal role in overseeing the preparation of the “White Paper” that delineates the Government’s Strategic Vision for expanding renewable energies. He spearheaded the formulation of the Ministry of Energy and Water’s statute and assumed the role of the head of Angola’s National Liaison Office (NLO) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where he represented the country in matters related to nuclear energy and efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation.
