Cameroon: Lom-Pangar Dam – construction of power plant launched

Sunday July 16, 2017 marked another turning point in the Lom-Pangar Hydroelectric Dam project as the construction works for the 30-MW power generation plant officially kicked off at the project site in Lom-Pangar in Belabo sub-division of the East Region.

The event was attended by President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Dr. Akinwume Ayodeji Adesina, who laid the foundation stone in the presence of Cameroon’s Ministers of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Water Resources and Energy and Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Louis Paul Motaze, Basile Atangana Kouna and Dr Tiaga respectively.

Dr Adesina expressed delight with the gigantic project which he said will not only supply electricity to Belabo but the entire East Region. According to him, about 10 million Cameroonians do not have access to electricity, which is a lever for industrialisation.

With the enormous electricity resources Cameroon possess, Dr Adesina pledged AfDB’s support to light up Cameroon. “AfDB will be implicated in all energy projects in Cameroon,” he said citing projects such as the Nachtigal dam, Kribi and Dibamba power plants which will connect 500,000 households in 2017.

He further added that the continental bank will invest some $12 billion in electricity projects for the next five years in Africa where some 645 million people have no access to electricity.

The Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Louis Paul Motaze presented the potential of the East Region in energy, minerals, aquaculture and agriculture which all fall within the five major priorities of the bank. He thus enjoined AfDB to invest in the East region stating that the dam will not only provide electricity but will also boost agriculture and fishing activities and thus contribute in feeding Africa.

The Deputy Mayor of Belabo, Thierry Angelo Mvodjongo on behalf of population said the laying of foundation stone for the power generation plant which will light up 150 localities is a sign for hope to get out of darkness.

The Project

The hydroelectric plant located at the base of Lom-Pangar dam will provide some 30 MW of energy to 150 localities covering about 10,000 households with an estimated beneficiary population of 50,000 people.

The project to last 30 months is financed to the tune of FCFA 39 billion by the African Development Bank and the Development Bank of Central African States. The AfDB, according to its President, will put in FCFA 30 billion.