The Cuanza River (also spelled Coanza, Kwanzaa, Quanza, Kwanza, or Kuanza) is a river in Angola. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean just south of the nation's capital, Luanda.
Rich biodiversity has been found in the Angolan river, according to research reported on the Science and Development Network website. Angola's first biodiversity tally of the Kwanza River has so far found 50 fish species. Researchers from the National Fishing Research Institute and the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity say genetic testing may reveal new species.
Contents
1 Overview
2 Tributaries
3 References
The river gives its name to two provinces of Angola: Cuanza Norte, which lies on the river's north bank, and Cuanza Sul, on the south bank. It is also a source of hydroelectric power for Angola, in the form of the Capanda Dam in Malanje Province, finished in 2004. The dam also provides water for irrigation of sugarcane and other crops in the lower Cuanza valley. The rivers's lower course is navigable for about 150 miles and was the original route of Portuguese penetration into north Angola.
The Angolan monetary currency is named after the river. The Barra do Kwanza, the mouth of the river, is gradually being developed to appeal to tourists and day-trippers from the capital, Luanda situated some 60 km to the north. Even a golf course is under development. Overnight accommodation is available but, due to very limited availability and high demand, pre booking is essential. Sport fishing is excellent, notably Tarpon. 90 kg examples are not unusual. The river, from the bridge to the sea, forms the Northern border of the Quissama National Park.
Energy in Angola describes
energy and
electricity production, consumption and
export from
Angola.
Energy
policy of Angola describes the
energy policy in the
politics of
Angola more in detail.
Energy in Angola is primarily driven by hydroelectric power.
Primary energy use in 2009 in Angola was 138 TWh and 7 TWh per million
persons.
Overview
| Energy in
Angola |
|
Capita |
Prim. energy |
Production |
Export |
Electricity |
CO2-emission |
|
Million |
TWh |
TWh |
TWh |
TWh |
Mt |
| 2004 |
15.49 |
110 |
667 |
547 |
1.92 |
7.81 |
| 2007 |
17.02 |
124 |
1,104 |
979 |
3.24 |
10.66 |
| 2008 |
18.02 |
128 |
1,231 |
1,090 |
3.41 |
10.56 |
| 2009 |
18.50 |
138 |
1,174 |
1,033 |
3.75 |
12.92 |
| Change 2004-2009 |
19.4% |
25.4% |
76.0% |
88.7% |
95.3% |
65.4% |
| Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy
includes energy losses |
Angola population has increased 19.4% in five years
2004-2009.
Hydroelectricity
Angola has
extensive hydroelectric power resources that far exceed its present needs. The
Capanda Dam, on
the Cuanza River,
provides Luanda's
industries with cheap power. Two dams on the
Catumbela
River produce power for the
Lobito
and
Benguela areas.
Matala Dam in southern
Cunene provides power to
Lubango and
Namibe. The
Ruacaná
Falls Dam, near the
Namibian
border, was completed in the late 1970s, but the power station is in Namibia. A
520 MW hydroelectric station on the Cuanza River at Kapanda was tentatively
scheduled to have begun production in early 2003. As of late 2002, only three of
the country's six dams (Cambambe, Biopo, and Matala) were operational;
US$200 million has been allocated to repair the remaining dams, which suffered
major damage in the civil war. In 2002, electricity generation was 1.728 TW·h,
of which 34.5% came from fossil fuels and 65.5% from hydropower. In the same
year, consumption of electricity totaled 1.607 TW·h. Total capacity in 2002 was
635 MW. Electricity is produced by
Empresa Nacional de
Electricidade de Angola.
Crude oil
Crude oil, in the production of which Angola ranks second in sub-Saharan
Africa, has been Angola’s chief export since 1973; it is also the leading source
of government revenue, accounting for $2.9 billion in exports in 1994, or 95% of
the total. As of end 2004, Angola had proven oil reserves of 8.8 billion barrels
(1.40 km
3). Oil reserves are along the Atlantic coast, mostly off
shore Cabinda and the northern border area between
Quinzau and
Soyo. In 1999, several oil companies were
engaged in production, of which the largest was a subsidiary of
Chevron,
Cabinda Gulf Oil Company. This company has a 49/51% participation agreement with
Sonangol, the
state oil company. Other firms included
Fina
Petróleos de Angola (a Belgian subsidiary),
Elf Aquitaine, and
Texaco. In 2004, crude oil production averaged 991,000
barrels per day (157,600 m
3/d).
ExxonMobil subsidiary
Esso began development of a section of the Xikomba
offshore oilfield in August 2002. Development was planned for a new
200,000-barrel-per-day (32,000 m
3/d) refinery in the city of Lobito,
on the coast.
Natural gas
Gross natural gas production totaled 8.4 km
3 (3.0
×1011 cu ft) in 2002. Total
natural gas reserves were estimated at 45 km
3 (1.6 trillion cubic
feet) as of 2002. Domestic demand for refined petroleum products is expected to
increase as the economy gradually rebuilds following the end of the civil war.
As of 2002, Sonangol and Chevron Texaco had joined forces in a $2 billion
project to develop liquefied natural gas from natural gas in Angola's off shore
fields. Production was slated to begin in 2007.
Environment
Oil spills in Angola
Angola fined
ChevronTexaco $2m for causing environmental
damage in 2002
