The hydroelectricity sector in Cameroon continues to develop with the launch of the Kikot Hydro Power Company (KHPC) which aims to build a new hydroelectric dam by 2030. This project, announced as the largest ever carried out in the country , aims to resolve Cameroon’s electrical energy supply problem.
The Nachtigal hydroelectric dam, located about sixty kilometers north of Yaoundé, will be the site of this new infrastructure. The construction work on this dam, which is scheduled to begin at the end of 2025, responds to government policy which wishes to anticipate the energy needs of households and industry.
While it is true that the current energy supply will soon be enriched by the 420 megawatts of the Nachtigal dam currently under construction, this may not be enough to satisfy demand by 2030. The Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, highlights an imbalance between supply and demand to be expected at this time. He believes that demand forecasts indicate that populations and industries will need more energy, hence the need to build new infrastructure.
To carry out this project, the KHPC was created. With a capacity of 500 megawatts, the Kikot dam will become the largest energy development in Cameroon and the Central African sub-region by 2030. This company is owned equally by the State of Cameroon and Electricité of France (EDF), which provides its expertise in the field of hydroelectricity.
The objective of this project is therefore twofold: to meet the growing demand for energy in Cameroon, while strengthening the hydroelectricity sector in the country. In addition to providing electricity to households, this new infrastructure will also support the development of industry by providing a reliable and sustainable source of energy.
This project therefore strengthens Cameroon’s position as a leading country in the hydroelectricity sector in Central Africa. With a growing economy and increasing energy demand, the construction of this new dam will ensure sufficient electricity production to meet the country’s needs and promote its economic development.