Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (Ministère de l’Economie, de la Planification et de l’Aménagement du Territoire, MINEPAT)
MINEPAT promotes Cameroon’s economic and social development objectives by following the long-term development plan, Vision 2035. In line with this plan, the ministry recognises the need for significant investments in the energy sector to develop renewable energy potential and achieve universal access to energy.
Ministry of Water Resources and Energy of Cameroon (Ministère de l’Eau et de l’Energie, MINEE)
MINEE is in charge of the governmental actions in the energy sector:
- Planning and defining national energy policy and strategies;
- Supervising energy sector activities, incl. long-term investment plans for IPPs and transmission lines, and
- Granting the necessary authorizations, licenses and concessions to operate in the power sector.
ENEO Cameroon S.A.
ENEO Cameroun S.A. is the historical electricity operator (formerly known as AES SONEL) and was granted a monopoly over transmission and distribution throughout Cameroon. It is a semi-public company with British private equity firm Actis acquiring a majority stake of 56% in 2014 with the remaining 44% held by the Cameroonian State. ENEO has an installed generation capacity of 968 MW with a capacity limit set at 1000 MW, consisting of 39 generation power plants, including 13 grid power plants and 26 remote thermal power plants with 74 % of the electricity generated sourced from hydro power.. At present, ENEO reports employing ~3,700 permanent staff and supplies more than 950 000 customers of whom approximately 45% live in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé.
Electricity Development Corporation (EDC)
EDC is a state company managing the public assets in the electricity sector, including the construction and operation of all hydroelectric projects in the country. EDC’s role is to study, prepare and execute any infrastructure projects in the electricity sector on behalf of the State, as well as to promote public and private investments in the sector. EDC currently oversees the ongoing development of Lom Pangar dam on the Sanaga River.
National Electricity Transmission Company (Société Nationale de Transport de l’Électricité, SONATREL)
SONATREL was established in October 2015 as a state-owned administrator and operator of Cameroon’s transmission network. Once the transfer of all transmission assets (currently owned by ENEO Cameroun S.A.) is completed, SONATREL will manage, develop and maintain the national transmission grid, including its interconnections with neighbouring countries. SONATREL will also be responsible for securing all necessary investments. The World Bank plans to support SONATREL in strengthening the national transmission grid by the Electricity Transmission and Reform Project at the estimated costs of USD 325 million (to be approved in December 2016 ).
The Electric Sector Regulation Agency (L’Agence de Régulation du Secteur de l’Électricité, ARSEL)
ARSEL, responsible for regulating the electricity sector, setting the electricity rates in line with consumers’ rights and determining electrical standards, acts as Cameroon’s impartial regulator. It reviews and approves the annual tariff to be paid to the power utility by consumers and promotes fair competition by analysing new investments in the sector and studying applications for concessions, licenses and authorizations before they are granted by MINEE (which has authority over ARSEL). ARSEL can also pronounce penalties for the power producers.
Rural Electrification Agency (Agence d’Electrification Rurale, AER)
AER, a legal public entity with financial autonomy, is focused on promoting and implementing rural electrification in Cameroon and manages the Rural Energy Fund. AER provides technical expertise and financial assistance to develop infrastructure for provision of energy services to the population of rural areas (incl. surveys, studies and projects preparations). AER is also responsible for managing the tenders for studies, development of rural electrification projects. It has just announced the second development phase, which is expected to deliver electricity supply to around 100 locations.
Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Private Distribution Companies
KPDC, DPDC, NHPC, Gaz du Cameroun, small IPPs
Since the adoption of the 2011 Electricity Law, small-scale (<1 MW) independent power generators and distributors (IPPs) in rural areas, outside the concession of ENEO Cameroun S.A., are allowed to generate energy supply. So far, only one independent power generation and distribution license was awarded to GFDEE to operate a 0.6 MW thermal power plant in Yoyo, serving about 160 customers. In 2015, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the JCM Greenquest Solar Corporation for developing the first IPP renewable project (72 MW solar plant).
In 2009, the government awarded Dibamba Power Development Company (DPDC) and Kribi Power Development Company (KPDC) a 20-year concession rights to build and operate the respective power plants (Dibamba, Kribi) and associated transmission lines. DPDC and KPDC operate under the consortium formed by British CDC Group and Norfund.
In July 2016, the Government of Cameroon has signed a shareholders’ agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Électricité de France (EDF) to create the Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC) that will develop the 420 MW Nachtigal hydropower plant.