Improved electricity supply : the Small Hydroelectric Power Plant of Mbakaou inaugurated

The Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston ELONDOU ESSOMBA, proceeded to the inauguration of the Small Hydroelectric Power Plant (PCH) of Mbakaou-Carrière, Thursday, April 14, 2022. The infrastructure with a capacity of 1 .4 MW, is the very first of a vast program implemented by the Government, within the framework of a public-private partnership.

The Director General of the Electricity Sector Regulatory Agency (ARSEL), Jean Pascal NKOU, led a mission from the Agency to the inauguration ceremony of the Small Hydroelectric Power Plant of Mbakaou-Carrière, chaired by the Minister of Water and Energy (MINEE).

The PCH of Mbakaou is located in the Adamaoua Region, Djerem Department, Tibati District. Its start-up has been effective since December 22, 2021, and makes it possible to connect 300 new households in 6 non-electrified localities (Makandao, Liboum, Boninting, Naskoul, Gantang and Combo), and the connection of 1,500 new households in already electrified localities of Tibati and Mbakaou. Its commissioning significantly improves the quality of electrical service in terms of reducing load shedding. In addition, the PCH of Mbakaou induces "a reduction in production costs and budgetary savings, it being understood that the localities concerned, in particular the town of Tibati, were until then supplied by diesel thermal power stations, the bill of which weighs heavily on the public treasury" recalled the MINEE in its speech.

On the environmental level, the commissioning of the Mbakaou PCH will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67,000 tonnes by 2030 due to the shutdown of the Tibati and Mbakaou thermal power stations. .
Moreover, the completion of this project is only the very first of a nationwide construction program of 50 small hydroelectric power plants, as part of a public-private partnership (PPP).

It should be remembered that the Mbakaou PCH project falls within the context of the law of 14 December 2011 which allows a producer of electricity from renewable sources to be connected to the network of the national distributor and to sell the energy produced. according to the regulations in force. In this case, ARSEL issued on February 3, 2014, an Authorization for the production, distribution and sale of electricity in rural areas to the project promoter, IED Invest.

The project has benefited from the financial support of the European Union through its Energy Facility program, and from the support of the State of Cameroon via the Rural Energy Fund of the AER endowed by the budget of the MINEE.