Mbakaou Hydroelectric Power Plants: EDC DG engages local communities, stakeholders to fast-track work.

This was the focus of a three-day field visit that spanned Saturday 13 to Monday 15 September.  Dr Nsangou was accompanied by a delegation of officials from the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT

With both plants expected to generate at least 300 Megawatts, MW, of electricity upon completion, the EDC boss listened to key community stakeholders to ensure its execution is smooth.

Exchanges touched on upholding best practices in the design and execution of the project. He also held briefings with technical teams conducting studies on the hydroelectric plants project. Steps on the projects implementation were also looked into. Administrative authorities also took part in the meetings.

Addressing stakeholders at every stop of his engagements, the EDC, DG restated that the consultative approach is in line with the Corporation’s principles of promoting transparency. 

Dr Nsangou also underscored the need for community support and involvement in the execution of the project. He stated that the field work marked a new shift in engagements towards ensuring that the Mbakaou hydroelectric plants see the light of day.

The team of officials made stops at sites to host the two power plants. In the course of the grassroots assessments, Dr Nsangou declared that it was a key window to boost the acceptance of the investment by the local population.

He also said the visit served the purpose of bringing administrative authorities, the population and other stakeholders to terms with the potential economic spinoffs of the huge investments undertaken by the EDC.

Engineers meanwhile used working sessions with the Dr Nsangou-led team to make a detailed comparism of data from studies and realities on the field.

Addressing domestic, int’l energy needs, respecting standards

Through the Mbakaou hydroelectric plants, Dr Nsangou stated, ties with the renewed engagement of the Head of State, Paul Biya to address domestic energy needs and meet for some in neighbouring countries such as Nigeria and Chad. It is projected that at least 100 Megawatts of electricity will be exported to Chad once the project is complete.

In execution of the presidential vision, Dr Nsangou reaffirmed EDC’s commitment to develop modern, environmentally friendly, and innovative energy infrastructure.

He said the EDC remains a major player in ensuring access to sustainable and equitable access to electricity for citizens.

With the Mbakaou hydroelectric plants, the EDC boss said Cameroon is consolidating its place as a major energy hub in Central Africa and beyond.

The investment, he stated, will complement other major realisations of EDC already in use such as the Lom Pangar, Memve’ele, Mapé, and Bamendjin dams.

Reviving Northern interconnected network

Assuring the population of communities to host the project, the EDC DG stated that the first benefit will be the strengthening of the Northern Interconnected network.

On specifics of the plans, engineers said the project has an expected capacity of 54 Megawatts for the upper plant at the base of the current reservoir.

They added that the lower plant will generate 234 Megawatts. Thirdly, experts stated that there will be a 111 Megawatts, MW, solar plant which will help power up the energy needs of the Northern regions.

On advantages, it was stated that, the realisation of the plants will reduce dependence on thermal sources of energy and integrate an innovative floating solar component to the existing energy infrastructure.

Driving economic development of Adamawa

On the major attractive gains that the project will bring, officials used the field visit to situate the economic gains that the Adamawa Region will experience.

This, it was stated during the field visits, will come in the form of social development and the supply of energy to businesses to ensure they thrive. Added to this, officials mentioned the several jobs that will be created.

Project strengths

Officials restated during the course of the EDG and MINEPAT joint delegation visits that the Mbakaou hydroelectric project is a central pillar in optimizing Cameroon’s energy supply.

Given its location downstream from an existing dam, experts used the meetings which ended yesterday to insist that it has several unique advantages. 

Engineers stated that the advantages from the project comes from; its ease to facilitate integration, pre-existing infrastructure, limited environmental social impacts plus the existence of a substation in Tibati some 40 kilometers makes power distribution easy. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3567 of Wednesday September 17, 2025