The national electricity distribution company, Eneo, has blamed the ongoing power woes facing Cameroon on a fall in water levels at one of the major dams supplying electricity to the country.
The recent disturbances have left major cities like Douala and Yaoundé, as well as parts of the South West region, grappling with erratic power supplies for weeks now.
In a recent release, Eneo revealed that the South Interconnected Grid, the largest electricity supply line in the country, has been adversely affected by the low water level of the Ntem River, resulting in a significant decline in power generation.
The River Ntem, which runs through the country’s South Region, supplies the Memve’ele hydroelectric dam which is responsible for electricity supply to the country’s major cities.
Eneo said the dam has been unable to meet increasing electricity demands recently, resulting in rampant power cuts and power rationing.
“The power available for distribution is highly limited due to the combined effect of the system’s inherent operational constraints and generation issues. Mainly, the low water level of the Ntem River is causing a significant drop in power generation at Memve’ele,” the company wrote.
Although Eneo blames low water levels, Cameroon’s power problems has been longstanding, occurring even in the rainy season when water levels are higher in dams.
Citizens, bearing the brunt of this electricity instability, have been voicing their frustrations.
A working-class citizen in Douala said, “It’s four days today I go to work and cannot work because Eneo has been making things difficult for us with their electricity instability.”
Another resident in Yaoundé shared concerns about storing perishable goods due to the power problems.
“I’m scared of the food items I have stored in my fridge. One cannot even boast of a straight two-hour electricity availability in this country.”
The situation has escalated to the point where citizens in Douala reported enduring almost two weeks without electricity, even spending the entire Christmas period in darkness.
The impact of these disruptions has extended beyond inconvenience, affecting daily activities for both households and businesses.
In response to the crisis, Eneo outlined special measures aimed at mitigating the impact on households.
These measures include the activation of thermal power plants and contributions from some industrial customers during peak periods.
However, the company did not provide a definitive timeline for when normalcy would be restored.
The timing of these disruptions has raised concerns, especially with the ongoing AFCON games in Ivory Coast.
Many Cameroonians, unable to afford generators like some of their counterparts, are urging Eneo to take immediate action to ensure a reliable power supply during this crucial period.
