Nachtigal Hydroelectric Power Plant: Minister assures of facility’s reliability in addressing energy need.

The member of government has also described the facility as a technological success and a source of national pride even as the country grapples with seasonal water shortages.

He made the declaration Last Wednesday after touring the facility’s control room situated in Ndokoa, Mbanjock Subdivision in the Upper Sanaga Division of the Centre Region.

The visit was conducted in the presence of Managing Director of Nachtigal Hydro Power Company, NHPC, Claire Gall. 

Also present were key stakeholders of the country’s energy sector including those from ENEO, SONATREL, ARSEL, EDC as well administrative and security officials.

Minister Eloundou Essomba insisted on the importance of relying on real-time data to understand the plant’s operations. 

“We are here in the control room of the Nachtigal dam…the figures speak for themselves,” he said, insisting on the figures displayed on indicators of production levels, water inflow, and system performance.

As the minister was speaking, the dam was receiving approximately 680 cubic meters of water per second. He explained that the flow is insufficient to operate all seven turbines simultaneously.

“Each machine requires about 150 cubic meters per second. This means that not all units can be in production at the same time,” he noted, adding that as a result, electricity output during the visit hovers between 200 and 283 megawatts.

The minister highlighted that production is expected to increase during peak demand hours in the evening. 

“From around 6p.m., we will reach close to 300 megawatts as demand rises and water management is adjusted accordingly,” he said. 

The strategic regulation, he explained, is necessary to ensure stability in electricity supply.

Minister Eloundou Essomba attributed the current limitations to the ongoing dry season, which is a period characterized by reduced water levels. 

He revealed that 2025 recorded one of the shortest rainy seasons in recent years, leading to insufficient replenishment of reservoir levels. 

“We are managing a deficit. The reservoirs were not fully filled, and we must therefore use the available water rationally,” he stated.

Despite these challenges, the minister maintained that the Nachtigal dam remains fully operational and capable of reaching its maximum installed capacity of 420 megawatts under optimal conditions.

“All machines are functional. What we need is the maximum water flow for the plant to deliver its full contractual output,” he said.

According to official figures, the facility generated over two terawatt-hours, TWh, of electricity in 2025, accounting for approximately 30% of the total seven TWh produced on the Southern Interconnected Grid. 

“At least 30% of the electricity consumed in households today comes from Nachtigal,” the minister stated, underscoring its strategic importance.

He also used the visit to reiterate that energy remains the backbone of economic growth. 

“Energy is the oxygen of industry. Without it, there can be no economic expansion,” Minister Eloundou Essomba declared. 

He added that the Nachtigal dam is expected to significantly boost the country’s industrialisation efforts by providing stable and competitive green energy.

The minister also raised concerns about financial imbalances within the electricity sector. He pointed out that the operator responsible for purchasing and distributing electricity has struggled to settle its bills, leading to mounting arrears.

Despite this, he said international partners involved in the project, including EDF, have remained patient and supportive.

“The partner continues to trust the State which has initiated a comprehensive reform programme aimed at restoring financial stability in the electricity sector,” he explained. 

The ongoing reforms, he added, seek to increase revenue collection and ensure timely payment of obligations to energy producers.

He stated that one of the major challenges identified is electricity fraud, which costs the sector over 60 billion FCFA annually. 

“We are intensifying efforts on the ground to combat fraud. If these losses were recovered, we would easily meet our financial commitments and strengthen partnerships,” the minister said.

He further noted that improving the sector’s financial health is crucial for advancing future projects, including the planned Kikot dam, which is expected to expand the country’s generation capacity even further.

The Nachtigal Hydroelectric Power Plant, operated by the Nachtigal Hydro Power Company, is currently the largest energy infrastructure in the country. 

Commissioned into full commercial service in May 2025 after six years of construction, the plant plays a critical role in country’s energy mix.

This article article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3736 of Thursday March 19, 2026