Chad-Cameroon pipeline readapted to Lom Panger dam project

The course of the Chad Cameroon pipeline has been realigned to suit the Lom Panger Hydro electric dam project.

The Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousamane Mey officially announced end of the adaptation project during a ceremony in Yaoundé attended by the Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological development, Emmanuel Bonde who supervised the project and officials of the Cameroon Oil Transportation company, COTCO who co financed and executed the project.

The finance boss noted with satisfaction that the project was executed at lower cost and within a short time then was initially envisaged.

He said the adaptation of the Chad – Cameroon pipeline which cross at the point where rivers Lom and Panger meet; a section that government had envisaged for the construction of a hydroelectricity dam.

In order to ensure the coexistence of both projects government pre-financed the adaption works to the tune of 49 billion CFA francs in 2012 and COTCO agreed to share the financial burden to the tune of 52.5%.

Upon completion of the project after 18 months, some 8 billion CFA francs unused funds were refunded to the public treasury and the COTCO also respected its engagements by paying some 21.4 Billion CFA francs, representing its contribution of 52.5% into the government treasury.

The Minister welcomed the public private sector partnership was highly appreciated as government recovered some 30 billion CFA francs out of about 41 billion invested in realigning the pipeline.

The project consisted of redirecting the pipes and replacing some sections with pipes adapted to underwater conditions. Optical fibres suitable for submarine conditions also replaced exiting ones within the portion. Oil spill respond mechanisms and environmental protection measures were also reinforced.