Cameroon: Electricity – Veritable Beckon for Development
Cameroon's electricity is managed by US AES under privatization...
By Shout-Africa Cameroon Correspondent – For more economic efficiency, electricity supply could also respond effectively to expectations if power generation, transmission and distribution are managed by different holders.
Despite challenges, electricity is a veritable beckon for development. The phone, internet, cable, audiovisual media, certain businesses have all of a sudden flooded the country and into some rural localities where there is supply integrating Cameroon in the global village. As a matter of fact where electricity has gone development has followed. Cameroon now stands a better chance of further development if the sector of electricity is expanded.
Electricity growth rate is said to vary between 6 and 8% despite steady investments every 9 or 12 years since the electrification of Cameroon began. There are indications, however, that investments ought to double every 12 or 13 years as electricity rate increases exponentially. From 2001 to 2011 the power utility company has achieved an increase of nearly 30% of electricity production capacity with more than FCFA 650 million of cumulative investment on projects to boost electricity. Since July 18, 2010 AES Sonel has undertaken projects to ensure effective missions defined by the Government of Cameroon, and given an urgent and ambitious programme, the company has so far received more than $650 million as donor aid to build power plants. With current production level and for more efficiency, electricity supply could respond effectively to the expectations of investors and clients if power generation, transmission and distribution are managed by different holders. Coverage and distribution to rural Cameroon still signals more funds.
Challenges & Efforts
Aging infrastructure hampers transmission. An official of the company complained, “The outdated equipment granted to AES-Sonel is not as much in our favour.” Hence FCFA 103 billion is devoted to extension, rehabilitation and equipping of the network. It also has to meet challenges such as cause deliberate blackouts, unprotected transformers (90%), and decayed poles (40%). “Despite a difficult start, we were able to switch between a capacity of 784MW in 2001 to 1017MWA to date,” said the official. Other efforts like the construction of the Kribi Gas Plant (FCFA 80 billion) for an additional capacity of 216MW, renovation of the Songloulou and Edea hydropower plants, and the construction of power lines in north and south of the country to expand or reinforce the interconnected networks. For upward boost to local economic growth, the official said: “Our investment plan now is also to focus on the rehabilitation of existing hydropower plants, expansion and renovation of thermal plants while supporting the Government in sector development – Lom Pangar Memve’ele and Mekin dam construction, as well as micro-projects studies in Wum, North West Region.”
