A 17-man delegation of AES SONEL lenders that rounded off their visit to Cameroon over the weekend was visibly satisfied with the country’s efforts to improve national hydro-electric power generation.

The aim of the visit, according to AES SONEL officials, was to assess the level of implementation of various electricity projects following the complete disbursement of 170 billion FCFA to that effect. The delegation, which comprised representatives from AFDB, DEG, EIB, IFC, Proparco, BDEAC, FMO and EAIF, last Thursday, February 10, visited the on-going replacement of a portion of the dam over Sanaga and refurbishment of the power plant in Edea.

Donor representatives were visibly satisfied that Cameroon’s hydro-electricity, like elsewhere, is much more reliable than wind, solar or wave power as water can be stored above the dam ready to cope with peaks in demand. Apart from the judicious use of the funds, the donors sought to know the impact on residents and the environment which at times may be unacceptable. Some left with the recommendation that more water should be channeled into the dam so that it is not only a guarantor of constant water for the plant when demand is high, but also used for irrigation, so building costs can be shared.

Most of the projects, which are in advanced stages technicians disclosed, will be completed by December this year. Most conspicuous was the dam over Sanaga River in which a 150- metre long portion is being replaced. This, site technicians reassured, will also be ready in December. Financing from the donors was said to have been used in acquiring four new generators to replace 60-year old low capacity ones, replacing turbines and to construct spillways. Most importantly is the increase in the capacity of the plant from 247 mega watts to 262 mega watts. Each of the generators supplies 16 mega watts of electricity, instead of only 11 mega watts as did the old ones. Three other generators, which were abandoned for over a decade for malfunctioning, have been put back into use.

Refurbishment work has also been carried out on tubes conveying water to turbines and also a project for the hook up of the plant’s powerhouse to optical fibre network to ease communication with all other plants, is almost complete. Funds from donors, according to AES SONEL officials, are vital in the implementation of the projects in Edea, Songloulou hydroelectric dam, Yassa-Dibamba Interconnection Plant in Douala as well as projects to boost electricity supply in other parts of the country.

The Edea Power Plant, which supplies electricity to the Aluminum Company, ALUCAM, situated close to it as well as much of it to the Cameroon public, comprises a dam built to trap the waters of River Sanaga to produce a great deal of power. The Edea Power Plant constructed way back in 1949 now provides 262 mega watts of electricity to the country's energy needs.