Cameroon, Congo to construct hydroelectric dam at the border

Basile Atangana Kouna Minister of water and energy, conveyed the message of Dam construction to his Congolese counterpart, Denis Sassou-N'Guesso as authorized by President Biya.

The message centered on the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the border of the two countries Called Chollet hydroelectric dam. It will be built precisely 150 km from Ouesso town (capital of the Department of the Sangha in the Northwest of Congo) and 126 km from Moloundou, Cameroon.

The study of construction of the said dam was carried out in 2010 by the Chinese company Sinohydro.

The project has been the subject of a memorandum of understanding signed on October 28, 2010 in Brazzaville by the two countries. The dam will allow for an interconnection of grids of the two countries, with a possible extension to the Central African Republic and Gabon.

‘It is a dam that will produce 600 megawatts. This dam will create jobs, to improve the conditions of life of Congolese and Cameroonians ', said Basile Atangana Kouna.

An ad hoc Committee Interstate has been in place to monitor the folder and provide the Governments of Congo and Cameroon with the elements necessary for the adoption of a definitive project management framework.

A three-month calendar and a budget of 32.5 million CFA francs for the functioning of the ad hoc Committee were adopted. The findings will enable the two Governments to seek additional resources and funding for the construction of the dam.

Apart from the dam, the head of the Congolese State and the emissary of Paul Biya also discussed topics relating to the construction of an Interstate University in Congo, whose headquarters will be set at Ouesso and the amphitheatres in Cameroon; the construction of a road that will depart from Brazzaville to Yaoundé, passing through Ouesso.

The Cameroonian Minister said that water and energy are integrating elements of great importance for the two heads of State.