Actualités of Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Source: cameroon-info.net
Mvomeka'a: Inauguration of solar plant angers residents
Mvomeka'a Palace
The Presidential Palace in Mvomeka'a, the birthplace of President Paul Biya, located in the Dja and Lobo, Southern Region, has just acquired a solar power plant.
Its inauguration took place on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in the presence of several members of government, including the Minister of Water and Energy, Basile Atangana Kouna.
According to the daily Le Jour on September 1, 2015, the new infrastructure adjoining the palace of Paul Biya has no unanimity within the population. Many voices have denounced the fact that the energy produced by the new solar plant is intended for the palace of Paul Biya.
A resident interviewed by the reporter of the newspaper: "Why do you want us to be happy? It is hard to believe that we are the direct neighbours of the head of state. Here we are desperately short of electricity and water. We resort to rivers and springs. But this water is not always clean."
According to Le Jour, all respondents refused to go to the opening ceremony of the solar power plant and associated network organized near the presidential palace, on Thursday.
"What will I do there? We were forgotten and we have to make ourselves mare in ceremonies for a few bank notes,” a local villager told the newspaper, in the local language. The newspaper reported that, according to residents of Mvomeka'a, the Presidential Palace is already well supplied with water and electricity and now a solar power plant has been added.
Le Jour says that according to the Minister of Energy and Water, Basil Atanga Kouna, the total cost of the plant is FCFA 453 843 316. Phases 1 and 2 of the project helped to establish 293 solar panels and 93 streetlights to power 72 kilowatts in the vicinity of the palace of Paul Biya. This plant was built by Huawei Company, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Water. Before Mvomeka'a, it was the university town of Soa (Ngousso-Soa highway) which was lit as part of the same project that aims to electrify 1000 localities in Cameroon.
