To boost water supply in Y’de: Minister Eloundou Essomba launches 87B FCFA reconfiguration project.

The ceremony held at the esplanade of the Yaounde VII Council in Minkoameyos.

The project, estimated at 87 billion FCFA, is expected to modernise the capital’s aging distribution infrastructure, improve access to safe drinking water, and support the city’s rapid urban expansion. 

The initiative is also expected to extend water services to neighbouring towns and localities including Soa, Mbankomo, Mfou, Akak, Bikok, and Nkomo.

The launch ceremony brought together several high-profile personalities, including the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reform, Joseph Le; the Governor of the Centre Region; the Senior Divisional Officer Mfoundi; members of the diplomatic corps from Belgium and Italy; local elected officials; traditional rulers; civil society representatives; and executives of Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation, CAMWATER, among them its Director General, Dr Blaise Moussa, as well as the companies awarded the contract.

Speaking at the event, Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba emphasised that access to drinking water remains a top government priority under the leadership of President Paul Biya. 

He recalled that the Yaounde and Surroundings Drinking Water Supply Project from the Sanaga River, PAEPYS, commissioned in 2024, has significantly boosted the city’s production capacity to 300,000 cubic metres of water per day, with the possibility of increasing to 400,000 cubic metres daily.

According to the Minister, while production has improved considerably, the current challenge lies in distribution. 

“This project is the essential link that will allow populations to fully benefit from the increased water production capacities,” he said.

The ambitious project, he noted, is scheduled to run for 36 months and includes the construction of five booster stations, three new reservoirs with a combined additional capacity of 13,250 cubic metres, and the laying of 160 kilometres of pipelines. It will also involve the installation of a modern remote management system aimed at reducing technical losses and improving operational efficiency.

One of the flagship structures of the project is the Minkoameyos reservoir, whose foundation stone was laid during the ceremony. This strategic reservoir, the minister said, is expected to improve water pressure, service continuity and supply security in several neighbourhoods across Yaounde. 

“Drinking water for all is no longer a promise; it is a reality in motion,” Minister Eloundou Essomba declared.

Salutes stakeholders’ support

Minister Eloundou Essomba praised the strong bilateral cooperation between Cameroon, Belgium, and Italy, which made the realisation of the project possible. 

He also commended the contributions of other government ministries, including Finance, Economy, Land Tenure, and Environment, for facilitating the project’s implementation.

Addressing the contractors, the Minister called for professionalism, quality workmanship, and strict respect of contractual deadlines. He also appealed to local populations to show patience and understanding during the execution phase, acknowledging that temporary inconveniences may arise.

“This sacrifice is necessary to guarantee sustainable and equitable access to drinking water for all,” he said.

For his part, the Director General of CAMWATER, Dr Blaise Moussa, described the ceremony as the beginning of strong actions toward solving the water challenges facing the capital. 

He noted that despite the current production surplus of approximately 485,000 cubic metres per day against a demand of 350,000 cubic metres, Yaounde’s outdated distribution network remains a major obstacle.

“The network, which is several decades old, suffers from numerous breakages, pressure drops, and a lack of proper interconnection between the city’s different elevation levels,” Dr Moussa explained.

He detailed the scope of the project, which includes the creation of three major distribution zones in Abomé, Zibi Antenne, and Minkoameyos, each to be equipped with reservoirs of 5,000, 4,500, and 3,750 cubic meters respectively. In addition, 85 kilometers of primary and secondary pipelines will be laid in key areas such as Etoudi, Mimboman, Nkomo, Mission and Mont Fébé.

For delegated contracting authority for the project, the project will also replace obsolete grey cast iron and steel pipelines known for frequent leakages and water losses, while extending 300 kilometres of tertiary network across existing and new distribution zones. Approximately 30,000 new households are expected to be connected to the network.

The project will be carried out by two internationally recognised Belgian firms: the PUTMAN/PHOENIX Environnement Consortium and ASPAC Technics BV, supported by ING Bank and Belfius Bank respectively.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3834 of Wednesday July 01, 2026