Cameroon hosts inaugural energy, infrastructure forum

More than 200 utility experts, financiers and prospective investors will later this year gather in Yaoundé for the launch of the Infrastructure Partnerships for African Development (iPAD) Cameroon Energy and Infrastructure Forum.

Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Basile Atangana Kouna, will officially open the event on December 1. Other confirmed speakers include Jean Pierre Ghonnang (Director of Electricity, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources), Frédéric Mvondo (Managing Director, Globeleq), Elias Pungong (Senior Partner, E&Y Cameroon) and Jean Pierre Kedi (CEO, Agence de Régulation du Secteur de l'Electricité).

iPAD Cameroon Energy and Infrastructure Forum enjoys the official support of the Cameroon Ministry of Water Resources and Energy and the programme will feature many high-level government representatives who will be on hand to answer questions from the private sector. Globeleq, a successful private investor in the country's power sector, will also share its best practice experience.

The power company is also the exclusive diamond sponsor for the event. Other well-known industry supporters are: Aggreko, Altaaqa Global and Siemens. Elodie Delagneau, iPAD Cameroon Event Director, said Cameroon was open for business and the iPAD format is perfect for this country as the government is keen to facilitate development and expansion of its power infrastructure and the opportunities are immense.

"Cameroon is ready to welcome investors, project developers, technical partners and financiers looking at investing in the country, and the key partners are available to develop national plans and consolidate the expansion of synergies and partnerships in transmission and distribution," said Delagneau.

Delagneau said the opportunities in Cameroon were exciting. Over 50 energy projects are available and being submitted to tenders and bids in order to fast track the development of the industry. Already more than 30 percent of the government budget goes to public projects.

Cameroon's government recently set 2035 as a target of becoming an emerging economy, hence the investment friendly regime that has been implemented to stimulate foreign direct investments. The government is implementing national power development plans to achieve by 2020 in order to reach 75 percent electrification rate and 20 percent rural electrification, currently standing at 7 percent.

The iPAD Cameroon Energy and Infrastructure Forum is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.