South Region: Energy minister launches solar project to boost electricity supply nationwide.

The Minister of Water and Energy Resources, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, has laid the foundation stone for the construction of a mini solar photovoltaic power plant to boost power supply nationwide.

The solar project launched Friday, November 17, in the locality of Bindoumba in Djoum Subdivision, Dja and Lobo Division of the South Region, is in its third phase. 

According to the minister, once completed, power from the plant will result in the supply of electricity to 87 localities in the ten Regions of the country. 

The project is being carried out in partnership with the Chinese company, Huawei Technologies. 

Minister Gaston Eloundou speaking during ceremony

Improving living conditions

According to Minister Eloundou Essomba, the project aims to improve the living conditions of the population. 

He said government is committed to ensuring access to electricity for people in landlocked areas, which are far from interconnected networks. 

The main objective of the project, he insisted, is to ensure access to quality electrical energy for citizens in rural areas.

This, he said, is at a controlled cost and an innovative bill payment system as it is carried out via the different mobile networks. 

“Despite the reforms introduced in the electricity sector and the enormous efforts already made by public authorities, the rate of access to electricity in our country has not yet reached the expected level. It stands at about 70% by 2023, with disparities between rural areas, where it is around 40%, and urban areas, where it is close to 91%,” the minister underscored. 

To note that with the current phase, the 87 localities to benefit have been partitioned as follows: seven localities each in Adamawa and East Regions; eight localities each in the North, Far North and Littoral Regions; twelve in the Centre and eleven localities each in the North West and South West Regions and five localities in the South Region.

Need for good quality energy

According to the minister, no development is possible without sufficient and good-quality energy. Minister Eloundou Essomba said the Head of State, President Paul Biya, has within his 2035 Vision for Cameroon’s emergence, put special focus on stepping up energy supply.

This, he said, with particular regard to improving access to electricity for people in rural areas and ensuring that rural populations have access to sufficient quality electrical energy is unequivocal.

“To date, the first two phases of the project have already been completed, with a total of 350 solar power plants built, including the associated networks and providing electricity to 27,400 households,” the member of government announced.

Officials at the event

Project will bring development

The realisation of the solar photovoltaic electrification project, the minister opined, will boost development in the earmarked 87 localities nationwide. 

He said it will provide the population of the locality of Bindoumba and surrounding communities to enhance their development.

The project, Minister Eloundou Essomba also said, will ease the creation of socio-educational establishments such as health centers, schools and as well as public buildings and private companies. 

“This project will undoubtedly enable the creation of numerous income-generating activities,” the minister underscored.

Tasks population to make good use of project

He urged the population to make good use of the project once it is completed. The minister counseled the population to avoid haphazard connections and installations and go for appropriate cables and other standard materials.

“Everyone should be aware and constantly bear in mind that these facilities are common property and of public utility. As such, they must be preserved used sparingly,” he told the population.

Thank partners for collaboration

The minister also thanked partners in the project chain such as Huawei and the Rural Electrification Agency for what he said is the constant show of dynamism and professionalism in ensuring the realisation of similar projects.

He remarked that: “I can count on your dynamism, professionalism and sense of duty, so that in 24 months time, all the works will be fully operational”.

Eloundou Essomba further saluted Huawei Technologies for its role in the efficient implementation of the first two phases of the project, despite numerous difficulties.

Clerics praying for project

Enter Huawei Technologies official

Speaking during the ceremony, the Vice President of Huawei Technologies, Li Shulew, said the company remains committed to ensuring access to digital technologies to every person, home and organisation for a full connected and intelligent world.

“In Cameroon, For Cameroon”, he said is not only a slogan but Huawei’s desire to support the strategy of the government by developing energy solutions adapted for the rural area.

Appreciation to Head of State

On behalf of the population and elite of Bindoumba, retired colonel Mengue Mengue Théophile, thanked the Head of State, for his focus in making real mega projects.

The realisation of the project, Mengue said “is proof of the esteemed will of the Head of State, Paul Biya in the development of the rural areas”. 

Better days, he said, are ahead as the realisation of the project will not only bring development but will equally reduce the rate of rural exodus, economic development. 

The population also raised the Minister of Water and Energy Resources to the rank of a notable.

Li Shulew, Huawei Technologies Vice President speaking during ceremony

Specificities of Phase III

The third phase of the projects is expected to covers 87 localities in all ten regions country. The project which is expected to last 24 months is funded to a tune 34.76 billion FCFA. 

The Solar Photovoltaic Systems consist of the construction of solar photovoltaic mini power plants with lithium storage batteries. 

The batteries have a lifespan of 24-hour operating. The construction of the associated distribution networks, and the supply of the metering system, prepaid meters.

The production capacities of the mini power plants range from 21.6 to 183.6 kilowatt-peak. It is expected that at the end of the project, at least 10,000 new households in rural areas will be connected.

The project also includes capacity-building for the teams in charge of maintaining and managing the facilities, as well as the provision of a stock of spare parts. 

To recall that it was on September 26, 2012 that the government sealed a deal with the Huawei Technologies for the provision