Memve'ele Dam to provide over 200 MW

The year 2012 can be considered a turning point for the energy revolution of our national economy.

Historians will remember that on June 15, 2012, the Head of State, Paul Biya, launched the construction of the Memve'ele dam, in the locality of Nyabizan, Valley of Ntem division, South Region.

According to official sources, the Memve'ele Dam would produce over 200 MW of energy to boost the sector.

The Chinese company, in charge of building the hydroelectric dam, Sinohydro, was so resolutely set to work, mobilizing more than 1400 more Cameroonians and Chinese workers.

Since then, much water has flowed under the bridge. Even though the construct is progressing, it has been realised the zeal to implement the project is dying down. In the second quarter of 2015, sources close to the Ministry of Water and Energy indicated that the rate of completion of work was more than 70%.

Significant work has already been done. For example, "we managed the second derivation of the Ntem River on the site of the infrastructure at the end of February 2015," official sources noted.

The Memve'ele hydroelectric dam will allow the production of 201 MW of additional energy. This dam, under construction, will cover the right bank of the River Ntem over an area of 1480 hectares and 5220 hectares on the rich left.

The total amount of the fund granted to its realization was FCFA 420 billion of which FCFA 243 billion were disbursed by Eximbank of China, FCFA 112 billion by the African Development Bank and FCFA 65 billion provided by the State of Cameroon, in the account of the counterpart funds. This will help reduce the significant energy deficit plaguing our country at present.

Experts explained that the country's energy deficit reached 100 MW per day during the dry season. And that this dam, if built, will provide 201 MW at peak times (specifically between 18 h and 22 h).

The Memve'ele dam project will bear the national electricity production at about 2,000 MW. The various project stakeholders recently reaffirmed their commitment to delivering this important work in 2017.