Angola’s President João Lourenço has authorised a direct award, without an open tender, for the first phase of the Cacombo dam on the Catumbela River in Benguela province, Novo Jornal reported on 9 November, citing a presidential order. The works are priced at about $661 million: $641.7 million for design and construction and $19.5 million for supervision, to be funded with external financing. The dam is meant to regulate the river’s flow, ease silt removal and stabilise water levels for the Lomaum and Biópio hydropower plants downstream. Steadier flows would protect power and water supply in Angola’s centre-south, while the direct award leaves the choice of contractor and the final price outside competitive bidding.