Dja & Lobo Division: Energy minister inaugurates first Bindoumba solar plant power station.

The project is part of the third phase of the project to electrify some 1,000 localities in the rural milieu nationwide using solar energy. 

Also in attendance were the Governor of the South Region, Felix Nguelé Nguelé; officials of the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy and representatives of the Chinese Company, Huawei Technologies; involved in the project realisation and the local population.

Minister Eloundou Essomba told the population that project is among many closed to the heart of the Head of State, meant to boost access to electricity.

Need to improve rural supply 

According to Minister Eloundou Essomba, “despite the enormous efforts already made by public authorities in the electricity sector, the rate of access to electricity has not yet reached the expected level”.

Electricity supply, he said, stands at about 71% throughout the country, with disparities between urban and rural areas. He detailed that while urban areas have electricity access of 60%, rural communities are still at 40%.

He said, it was on the basis of such glaring disparity that President Paul Biya opted for investments in the domain of solar energy to reverse the situation. 

Through the project, he said the Head of State is working to improve the living conditions of the beneficiary population. 

To do this, he emphasised that government intends to ensure people have access to electricity at affordable rates.

Thanks to the first two phases of the project, the minister said 350 solar plants are now supplying electricity to 27,400 households. The ongoing third phase, he added, involves electrifying 200 communities. The first set of villages to be reached in this phase, the energy minister said, are 87.

The solar facilities in the selected communities, he added, will have a total installed capacity of five megawatts. He said the facility has innovative technology, compared to those used in the previous phases. Works for the ongoing third phase, the minister said, will last 24 months.

Project innovations

The minister further specified that given the innovations in place, communities within this third phase will be served with solar power plants that can last 10 years. 

He also said the inverters used in the solar plants guarantee safety and have capacity for higher output.

Another innovation, the minister said, is that prepaid meters are equipped with safety devices to protect against any mishap. In addition, he said concrete poles have been introduced to ensure stability and robustness.

Some of the structures during the first two phases, he added, are experiencing difficulties due to the limited lifespan of the batteries used, as well as falling wooden poles on the distribution networks. 

In this respect, he disclosed that instructions were given to the Rural Electrification Agency to rehabilitate them using modern technology.

The Bindoumba solar photovoltaic power station, Eloundou Essomba said, equally supplies other localities. He remarked that at least 100 households will have access to electricity, thanks to the station put to use over the weekend.

 “This project comes at just the right time to bring the people of Bindoumba the energy they need for the smooth running of activities in socio-educational establishments such as health centres, schools and colleges, as well as public buildings and private companies, the minister underscored.  He also said the project will boost income-generating activities in concerned communities.

Salutes operating company

Eloundou Essomba used the occasion to salute what he said is the professionalism of Huawei Technologies in executing the project.

 “As for Huawei, the partner responsible for carrying out the work, I know that I can count on your dynamism, professionalism and sense of duty to ensure that all the 86 other works become effectively operational within the contractual deadlines,” the minister remarked.

Call for responsibility

The minister charged the population to use the facilities responsibly. He also asked the Rural Electrification Agency to take measures to ensure regular maintenance of the facilities.

Meanwhile, an official of Huawei Technologies, who spoke at the event, said they are going to deliver the project in time while maintaining standards.

An elite of Bindoumba, retired Colonel Mengue Mengue Theophile, who spoke on behalf of the population, thanked President Biya for ensuring access to electricity in the rural milieu.

Mengue expressed delight that five months after the project was launched, the population is now connected to the electricity supply grid. The foundation stone of the project was laid in November 17, 2023.