Made In Cameroon Magazine –The gradual commissioning of the Nachtigal dam marks a crucial milestone for Cameroon’s energy sector. As the Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, points out, “in October, we’ll certainly have the 4th unit up and running by the end of the month”. This ramp-up is made possible by the agreement recently signed between NHPC and Sonatrel, which guarantees the transmission of the electricity produced.
According to Sonatrel Managing Director Victor Mbemi Nyaknga, “NHPC must be paid by the supplier, Eneo, with whom they have a Power Purchase Agreement. And we, at Sonatrel, transport the energy and expect in return the payment of the electricity transport fees by NHPC”. As Vincent Leroux, Managing Director of NHPC, points out, this agreement “enables us to serve the entire Réseau Interconnecté Sud (RIS) and to evacuate all the energy from Nachtigal”.
However, despite these advances, major challenges remain. Aging transmission and distribution infrastructures require substantial investment. As the Minister acknowledged, “if the dams are built but the transport infrastructure is not adapted, it will be difficult to meet the needs of the population“. The new line under construction to Douala, a major consumer center, is an example of these necessary investments.
Gaston Eloundou Essomba thus insisted on the need to synchronize the construction schedules of transport infrastructures with energy production at Nachtigal. “This will help to significantly reduce the inconvenience that populations currently experience due to production shortfalls or inadequate transmission infrastructure,” he declared.
With a capacity of 420 MW, the Nachtigal dam represents considerable potential for Cameroon. It will not only increase access to electricity, but also reduce dependence on fossil fuels and boost electricity exports to neighboring countries. The interconnection project with Chad, for example, bears witness to these ambitions.
By Hariette Fonyuy
