Kikot-Mbebe Hydroelectric Dam Project: Stakeholders launch virtual data room to vet bidders.

The meeting had in attendance both online and in-person representatives of government, potential contractors. The meeting transpired under the oversight of a mandated bailiff.

Focus during the exercise was the unveiling of the list of bidders and mandated individuals of the companies that had applied for the contracts that make up the different tranches of the project.

The meeting took place after the May 5 deadline for the submission of application for the different components of the project expired. Officials said at the meeting that with the identities of interested companies having been unveiled during the meeting, analysis will follow to result in the publication of a final list of bidders for the different aspect of the project.

During the application process, the interested companies had signed a non-disclosure agreement with KHPC. Then, they were also given access to the virtual data room under the codename “iDeals” to download vetting files for their applications.

All the transactions were done through email. With the launching of the Virtual Data Room, selected bidders will be invited for the bidding phase of the project projected to hold between August and September this year.

The expectation is in line with an announcement which KHPC had made public when it initially announced the vetting process of companies. This was on January 27, 2025. KHPC had said the move was in line with World Bank standards.

The initial vetting process was for three aspects of the project. The KHPC had said the first aspect of the project was for civil engineering works and hydromechanical equipment of the factory dam and its associated steel structures.

It had announced that the second involved the electromechanical works mainly and equipment for the hydroelectric plant. This, the Company said in its January announcement, will also cover the plant's secondary civil engineering work.

The third aspect of the project is its Line and substation. This, the institution had said, will involve the installation of power transmission lines, power transmission substation and substation links.

Project context

The Kikot-Mbebe Hydroelectric Dam project is one of the schemes government is relying on to up the country’s electricity capacity. Authorities have repeatedly said it is a key aspect of the National Development Strategy 2020-2030, SND30.

Through Public Private Partnership, PPP, the State and Électricité de France, EDF, reached a deal to co-develop the dam project.

On September 25, 2023, both partners in the project created the Kikot-Mbebe Hydro Power Company, KHPC, with each party having 50 percent shares to implement the project.

It is projected to produce 500 megawatts of electricity. The dam is envisioned to be 1,200 meters long, comprising six Kaplan turbines with individual capacities of 83.3 megawatts.

Expected benefits of project 

The dam, government has repeatedly indicated, will create at least 3,500 direct and indirect jobs. Additionally, once completed, authorities say, the Kikot dam would boost the country’s attractiveness to investors in terms of energy availability.

Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, SMEs, which are the backbone of the country’s economy, have also been identified as potential major beneficiaries of the Dam once it sees the light of day.

In terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the production of hydro power is seen as a better option instead of thermal generators that poses risk to the environment.

Additionally, it is being said that the dam project will serve as a major catalyst in improving the living conditions of citizens and advance development in several communities.

Aspects of the project that considers options to preserve biodiversity of communities have also been hailed as a boost to reduce pressure on the natural environment from the population. The project is estimated at 650 billion FCFA. It’s commissioning is also expected to happen by 2030.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3452 of Thursday May 22, 2025