Government and three companies have signed an agreement to construct the power plant.

Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang, November 8, 2013 chaired the signing of an agreement between the government of Cameroon on one hand and, the Electricité de France, EDF, the International Finance Cooperation, a World Bank affiliate and Rio Tinto Alcan to provide 420 megawatts of electricity on the River Natchtigal. The Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Basile Atangana Kouna, penned on behalf of the Cameroon government.

It was in 2005 that Cameroon and Rio Tinto Alcan agreed on the need to partner and modernise the energy sector to meet the ever growing demand that exceeds supply. The signing of the estimated FCFA 400 billion project, Atangana Kouna said, is therefore expected to propel industrialization. It is an important project that will induce close to 430 megawatts to the country’s energy sector and it is on the instructions of the Head of State to develop the River Natchtigal in partnership with EDF, the Energy Minister said, noting that they are ready to mobilize all it takes for the project to be executed and on time.

The Representative of EDF who is also former French Minister of Cooperation, Michel Roussin signed for his company and said they are noted regionally and international for respecting their terms of contract with utmost emphasis on environmental concerns. The Natchtigal project was original and complex and it was EDF’s duty as an internationally recognized energy production company to join hands with the Cameroon government to carry on with the government initiative.

EDF`s regional representative, Edouard Dahome said the signing of the agreement was an opportunity for them to step up their contribution to the Cameroon`s growing energy sector. “It is a huge project and we think it is a brilliant opportunity for us to contribute for the future of the energy sector in Cameroon,” Dahome noted. He emphasized that; “We promise that we will be there to deliver the project in time and on target, respecting the cost of the project.”

The installed capacity of the project stands at 360 megawatts with the possibility of extension to 420. The guaranteed capacity is estimated at 270 megawatts still with possibility of extension to 330 megawatts. Participation for the project includes 40 per cent for EDF, 34 for the International Finance Cooperation and 26 for the State.

The terms of the agreement spell out that the construction of the power plant would begin in six months after the signing of the contract.