How AES Sonel turned to ENEO Cameroon

The electricity generation, transportation and distribution company in the country which since 2001 was known as AES Sonel, is now known as ENEO Cameroon SA (Energy of Cameroon).

The electricity operator also has a new slogan: “We are the energy of Cameroon”. The semi-public company’s new name and visual identity were formally unveiled at a recent ceremony in Yaounde by the Minister of Water and Energy, Basile Atangana Kouna.

The change of name and visual identity were necessitated by the fact that the former strategic partner of the energy company, AES Corporation (a US company), a few months ago sold its majority share, 56 percent, following a 20 year concession deal it signed with the State of Cameroon in 2001.

AES sold the shares to a British investor, the ACTIS Group. The Sate of Cameroon owns the remaining 44 percent shares of ENEO Cameroon.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed in a press release by ENEO Cameroon, that in a campaign that was launched by the company (then still known as A ES SONEL) for submission of suggestions for a new name, a total of 12,300 people comprised of the company’s employees, customers and other members of the public, proposed a total of 8,896 names. Three persons proposed the name, “Energy of Cameroon”, which won the competition.

The lucky winners who received a total of FCFA 3 million in cash prize, included Christian Armand Messanga (FCFA 2,000,000), Jules Kamtchoum Bialeun (FCFA 500,000), and Florence NadegeNsangou, a student of IRIC (FCFA 500,000).

“A New Vision Underway”

According to the press release, the electricity operator’s new name, Energy of Cameroon, reflects the company’s determination to do more for its customers.

The rebranding is said to be part of a wider plan to add value within the business, including improving customer services, working with local communities and supporting ENEO employees.

In fact the rebranding of the electricity operator is seen by many as the beginning of new life in the electricity sector bringing with its strong values such as; proximity, simplicity, solidarity, modernity and attentiveness. “This is the first step in improving products and services for or customers”, the press release states.

The General Manager of ENEO Cameroon, Joel Nana Kontchou, stresses that “the change of name signals a new vision underway within the company”. He added that by including so many people in the renaming process, the company has found a name that the Cameroonian people would identify with.

“With new objectives and new initiatives that should contribute in proposing to our customers a trademark, ENEO, in line with its historic mission, proud of its new values, drawing from the experience of its staff and innovative technologies in order to take up the challenges of today”, the General Manager further states.

Meanwhile according to the press release, ENEO Cameroon has an installed electricity generation capacity of 936 MW. The company is said to have more than 900,000 customers, of which approximately 45 percent live in Douala and Yaounde. ENEO currently has over 3,600 permanent staff.

As for the new strategic partner, ACTIS Group, it is said to invest exclusively in the emerging markets with a growing portfolio of investments in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The Group is said to currently have a total of US $ 6.5 billion as capital.