Energy consumption - Douala to get 20 mw modulation plant

MINEE boss also announced other measures to bridge the demand/supply gap in the country.

The Minister of Water and Energy Resources, Basile Atangana Kouna, has announced an imminent setting up of a pilot energy consumption modulation plant in Douala, Littoral Region for a rational use of scarce energy. The plant could extend to other major cities of the country to attenuate the energy crisis in Cameroon should the pilot one meet desired results. The plant, he noted, will be realised on the Design, Build, Own and Operate basis.

Presenting his priority areas for 2013 during a New Year Wishes ceremony on Tuesday February 19, Minister Atangana Kouna said his ministry will also undertake a project to economise energy in public buildings and another to distribute 9.6 million low consumption lamps and 3.2 million solar lanterns to Cameroonian households. All of these, he said, will be partially financed by carbon credits. Cameroon, the Minister acknowledged, is facing considerable energy shortfall but sounded upbeat that ongoing projects and those still in the pipeline could in no distant future journey the country out of the deficit. The 216 MW Kribi Gas Fired Plant to go operational in the days ahead as well as the optimum functioning of the 100 MW Energy Thermal Plants in the country, Dr Atangana Kouna said, could greatly solve the problem. But work on giant hydroelectricity dam projects in the country, notably Lom-Pangar, Memve'ele and Mekin, will intensify while negotiations continue to kick-start others like Warak, Menchum, Katsina Ala as well as the rehabilitation of the Lagdo dam.

Concerning potable water supply, efforts will be redoubled to round off rehabilitation work and construction of water treatment stations notably that of Mefou in the Centre Region, Yato in the Littoral as well as drawing and treating of potable water from the Sanaga River for household use in Yaounde and its environs.

The petroleum sector in the country, the Minister said, will also receive a boost both with the change of hands at the helm of SONARA, its extension and modernisation as well as the extension of the storage capacity of SCDP. To attain these objectives, Minister Atangana Kouna prescribed assiduity, selflessness and respect of regulations and hierarchy.