Cameroon is finally launching its long-awaited 30 MW solar power plant project in the northern regions. The project, which was announced in 2021, is expected to be commissioned in September 2023.
The two solar power plants, which are located in the towns of Guider and Maroua, will have a combined capacity of 30 MW. The project is expected to significantly improve the quality of electricity supply in the northern part of the country, which has been prone to power outages in recent years.
The project is also expected to reduce the need for costly thermal power plants, which will save the government money. In addition, the project is expected to create jobs and boost the local economy.
The Cameroonian government awarded the contract for the solar power plant project to Scatec, a Norwegian renewable energy company. Scatec will be responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the project for a period of 25 years.
The solar power plant project is part of Cameroon’s efforts to increase its reliance on renewable energy and reduce its carbon footprint. The country has set a target to increase its renewable energy share to 20% by 2030.
However, as the government had initially anticipated, the project could not begin in 2021 due to technical limitations. “It’s an interesting project. But we have to be cautious for two reasons. First, it’s a new technique in Cameroon, and solar energy is somewhat unique. Even though there is plenty of sunlight in the North, solar energy is by definition variable. As both industrial and residential customers demand a stable energy supply, we must make sure that these modular power plants will deliver it. So, there are technical aspects that need to be verified. Second, faced with this spontaneous offer, we are still obliged to conduct consultations to ensure there are no alternative offers,” a source close to the matter told Business in Cameroon in May 2021.
The delay in implementing this project forced the Cameroonian government and Eneo in 2021 to transfer 20 MW of thermal power from the Ahala power plant (near Yaoundé) to Garoua (12 MW in Djamboutou) and Ngaoundéré (8 MW) to alleviate daily power outages for the populations and businesses in the northern region. According to internal Eneo sources, this capacity transfer resulted in unaffordable additional fuel costs of about CFA2.4 billion per month (CFA80 million per day).
The project is a sign of Cameroon’s commitment to renewable energy. The country has set a target to increase its renewable energy share to 20% by 2030. The solar power plant project is a step in the right direction towards achieving this goal.
An official release from the Department of Water and Energy revealed that Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba will preside over the launch ceremony during his visit to the site from September 19 to 23.
