CWE and EDC launch the partial opening of the Lom Pangar dam

Chinese society CWE and heritage company Electricity Development Corporation (EDC) have proceeded with the launching of the partial flooding of the Lom Pangar dam, under construction in the region of the East of Cameroon.

The partial opening was launched on September 24, 2015, and the construction is already 90 per cent complete.

For the time being, all phases of "operation took place in a satisfactory manner", said Théodore Nsangou, the DG of EDC. However, he said these different phases of the process of partial impounding will be evaluated and validated by experts from the World Bank sent from Washington, whose specialists arrived at the site of the dam on the afternoon of September 24, 2015.

It will be mainly for the latter, explained a technician on site to assess the performance of the whole work, with the gradual rise of water switched on September 24. According to EDC, until mid-January 2016, the low flow period usually spanning three months between 2 and 3 billion cubic meters of water will be retained in the Lom Pangar dam.

This deduction will help regulate upstream flows of the Sanaga River, with direct effect being the increase in the production of electricity from Edea and Songloulou, from 70 to 80 MW, without any investment.

According to the DG of EDC, in July 2016, Lom Pangar dam will be finally completed. This infrastructure can then achieve its total holding capacity estimated at 6 billion cubic metres, for an increase of 120 MW of electricity without additional investments. In addition, Lom Pangar will optimize the capabilities of other energy structures, whose construction is scheduled on the Sanaga River.

Built by the Chinese company CWE, Lom Pangar dam will also have a factory with a capacity of 30 MW, of which the construction will start in December, for a period of approximately one year. This plant will help electrify 150 villages in the East Region of the country.