Douala Port to build 628 billion FCFA-worth electricity system.

To this effect, a landmark agreement was signed Friday, September 12. The deal was signed at PAD headquarters.

The agreement was signed between PAD’s Director General, Cyrus Ngo’o and the head of Douala Port Power Corporation SA,DPPC SA and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of La Citadelle Group, Darius Mesmin Ekouda.

The project, estimated at 628 billion FCFA, will be executed under a Public-Private Partnership, PPP model, entirely financed by the private partner — without any guarantees from PAD or the State of Cameroon.

According to the agreement, the first phase consists of building a 102 MW power plant worth 257 billion FCFA coupled with a gas pipeline from Kribi to Douala estimated at 140 billion CFA francs.

The second phase will see the extension of the plant’s capacity from 102 MW to 300 MW over ten years, at a cost of 230 billion CFA francs.

The project is expected to generate 100 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect jobs, while also reducing the port’s carbon footprint through the use of modern, energy-efficient technologies.

Ending disruptions once and for all

Speaking during the signing, PAD boss, Cyrus Ngo’o stressed that the project is a direct response to the frequent outages and unstable voltage that have plagued port operators for years.

“Power disruptions caused by insufficient supply and an ageing distribution network have seriously undermined productivity at the port and discouraged potential investors,” he said.

He added that ensuring energy autonomy is a top priority in PAD’s Master Development Plan, with the goal of making the Douala-Bonabéri port a competitive, reliable, and environmentally friendly logistics hub.

For his part, Ekouda of La Citadelle Group said the project is designed to put an end to the chronic power crisis. 

“As you know, the Douala Port is the economic lung of Cameroon. It was crucial to install a power plant capable of producing reliable energy round the clock with state-of-the-art technology. I believe this issue will be resolved once and for all,” he declared.

Full PPP model

The infrastructure it was said, will be built by a Chinese firm using cutting-edge technology. 

Under the Build-Operate-Transfer, BOT framework, DPPC SA will finance, construct, and operate the facility for 25 years before handing it over to PAD.

Ekouda also revealed that the contract includes a technology transfer scheme.

 “Our Chinese partners will train Cameroonian engineers and technicians to master the expertise required” he said.

A strategic boost for Douala

Joseph Nguene Nteppe, Chief of Corporation and Analysis at PAD, described the project as “one of the port’s long-identified priorities” aimed at achieving total energy autonomy.

“It directly addresses the energy supply shortfall. As the port evolves into an industrial and logistics hub, this project ensures reliable additional supply to meet operators’ growing demand,” he said.

Aside serving the port, excess electricity from the facility could also be supplied to the city of Douala, further boosting the economic capital’s energy security.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3566 of Tuesday September 16, 2025