Partial filling of the Lom Pangar dam in September 15

The construction of the Cameroon Lom Pangar hydroelectric dam (East), whose partial water is scheduled on 15 September, is 84% complete, according to experts interviewed by APA on site.

The observation was also established after a three-day field visit by the project's owner and Managing Director of Electricity Development Corporation (EDC), Theodore Nsangou.

This complex operation is to store 3 billion cubic meters of water in the Lom River and about 6 billion planned for in the Sanaga River, the largest river in Cameroon (1043 km), and a tributary that drains a catchment area of 131,000 square kilometers and representing 28.6% of the land area.

Some 33 communities will be affected by rising water about 5 meters per day for the first three days.

In anticipation of this flooding, EDC launched a broad awareness campaign in the said areas which also includes general safety instructions in the grip of the tank, including the complete cessation of farming activities, gold panning, fishing and livestock in areas defined by the appropriate terminals.

"Operational testing of hydroelectric equipment has begun and will continue until the fateful date of September 15," Theodore Nsangou said to APA after the coordination meeting with the main responsibility for project management.

"The final filling of the dam will be held in July 2016, and this time it will happen," he added.

According to the head of EDC, the 70 megawatts expected from this phase will pass through the dry season in 2016 with fewer problems of energy deficit as well as Eneo which has already integrated the contribution of Lom Pangar dam in its programming of next year.

With an installed capacity of 30 megawatts for the dam, apart from the financial support of Cameroon, this project is co-financed by the World Bank (WB, FCFA 66 billion), the European Investment Bank (EIB FCFA 19.7 billion), the African Development Bank (ADB, FCFA 33 billion), the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC FCFA 20 billion) and the French Development Agency (AFD FCFA 39.3 billion).