Kikot-Mbebe Hydroelectric Dam project: Bids launched for selection of local, int’l companies.

The information is contained in a statement which the management of KHPC made public recently. According to the statement, the ambitious project, which officials said will generate 500 Megawatts of energy, is expected to have far-reaching economic, social, and environmental benefits.

In the announcement, the company said the tender concerns companies in the domain of civil engineering and hydromechanical equipment. 

Companies expressing interest, it said, are expected upon selection, to handle aspects in the dam’s construction such as hydromechanical components, steel structures; electromechanical works with focus on the installation of turbines, generators, and other power generation equipment.

The KHPC said it is also looking for companies to partner in the realisation of power transmission infrastructure, which covers the construction of transmission lines, substations, and plant connections.

The project, the statement noted, presents a golden opportunity for Cameroonian construction companies; particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, SMEs, to secure contracts in various sectors from raw materials supply to technical expertise. 

It equally noted that the initiative is meant to create thousands of jobs to provide much-needed boost to the local economy.

According to the statement, in the economic domain, the commissioning of the Kikok Hydroelectric Dam is expected to have numerous spin-offs, including boosting local activities through the creation of around 3,500 direct and indirect jobs. 

Officials also talk about an improvement in the attractiveness of the national and even Sub-regional economy, once works get underway. In social domain, the project intends to improve the quality of life through better access to electricity for households, schools and health facilities. 

The Kikot-Mbebe project, it should be said, is being developed under the National Development Strategy 2020-2030, SND30, which prioritises renewable energy projects through Public-Private Partnerships, PPP.

As part of the strategy, the government and Électricité de France, EDF, have joined forces, each holding a 50% stake in KHPC. The project aims to diversify the country’s energy mix, reduce reliance on thermal power plants and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Once completed, the 1,200-metre-long dam is expected to house a power plant fitted with six Kaplan turbines, each generating 83.3 Megawatts of electricity. It could become one of the largest hydroelectric facilities in the country.

Interested companies are expected, as per the release, to submit files by email to the address; appeloffres.kikot@khpc.cm and projet-kikot@edf.fr,

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3360 of Wednesday February 5, 2025