Cameroon wants to attract more investment into electricity transmission, marking a new phase in the country’s energy strategy. After years of financing new power plants, particularly large hydropower projects, the government now sees the transmission network as the sector’s biggest priority.

The shift was reaffirmed on June 19 in Yaoundé, where Minister of Water and Energy Gaston Eloundou Essomba met with Italy’s Ambassador to Cameroon, Natalia Sanginiti, and Riccardo Rossi Van Lamsweerde, head of the regional office of Italy’s public financial institution, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. During the meeting, which focused on investment opportunities in the energy sector, the minister encouraged Italian partners to give greater attention to electricity transmission infrastructure.

“The transmission segment should continue to receive the attention of our partners. They should take an interest in it,” he said. The appeal is part of Cameroon’s National Energy Compact, a roadmap that seeks to mobilize $12.5 billion in additional financing by 2030. The government describes the plan as a roadmap for developing sustainable energy infrastructure that will expand access to clean energy for households and businesses while supporting industrial development and clean cooking.

Among the proposed reforms is a broader opening of the electricity transmission segment to private investors through public-private partnerships. The government hopes this approach will speed up infrastructure development while easing pressure on public finances.

A Grid Under Pressure

The growing focus on transmission comes as Cameroon prepares to significantly expand its electricity generation capacity.

After commissioning the Nachtigal hydropower plant, which increased supply to the Southern Interconnected Grid, the government is advancing several other major projects.

The 500-megawatt Kikot hydropower project remains one of the country’s top priorities. The Minkouma project is also moving forward, while Bini à Warak is approaching another milestone with the expected signing of a development agreement. At the same time, the government, with support from the World Bank, is conducting studies for large-scale solar power plants in the country’s northern regions.

As electricity production increases, expanding the transmission network has become more urgent. Without sufficient investment in high-voltage transmission lines, substations, and evacuation infrastructure, part of the new generating capacity may never reach households, businesses, and industrial zones.

The issue has become even more important as electricity demand grows alongside new industrial, mining, and port projects. In that context, electricity transmission is no longer just a technical component of the power sector. It has become a key factor in industrial competitiveness and in maximizing returns on the country’s investments in power generation.

Sonatrel Faces Major Investment Needs

Created by presidential decree in 2015, the National Electricity Transmission Company (Sonatrel) is responsible for transmitting electricity, managing the national transmission grid, and planning, developing, and building new transmission infrastructure on behalf of the state.

The company, however, faces significant investment needs to modernize and expand a network that remains insufficient for the country’s growing energy ambitions.

According to figures cited by the Ministry of Water and Energy, nearly 30% of the electricity generated in Cameroon is lost before reaching consumers because of weaknesses in the transmission and distribution networks. Reducing those losses is one of the government’s main priorities for improving the technical performance and financial sustainability of the electricity sector.

Opening the transmission segment to new financial partners is therefore viewed as a strategic step. The government hopes it will accelerate the construction of transmission lines, modernize existing infrastructure, and gradually strengthen interconnections between the country’s different power networks. The interest shown by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti in Cameroon’s energy projects could open the door to additional financing.

For the government, the challenge now is to convert growing electricity production into tangible economic gains. That will require a transmission network capable of reliably delivering power to households, industrial sites, and future manufacturing hubs.

After focusing much of its effort on expanding generation capacity, Cameroon now faces the next stage of its energy strategy: building a transmission network that can support economic growth, strengthen energy security, and make full use of the country’s investment in power production.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Cameroon is looking to change how it maintains urban roads and drainage systems, shifting from a system focused on construction work to one centered on long-term performance.

The Sustainable Cities and Land Management Project (PVGFD), with support from the World Bank, is preparing to introduce a new generation of road maintenance contracts known as Results-Based Road Contracts (MROR). On June 17, public works companies, engineering firms, local governments, and urban development stakeholders gathered in Yaoundé for a workshop dedicated to the new model. More than 100 participants attended the event, both in person and online.

The approach represents a significant departure from traditional public works contracts. Under the current system, companies are paid primarily for carrying out specific works. Under the proposed model, a larger share of compensation depends on the condition of the infrastructure over time and the quality of service delivered to users. “Unlike traditional contracts, MRORs focus on results and the long-term quality of infrastructure for the benefit of citizens. Expected benefits include better-maintained roads, more effective drainage systems, smoother mobility, and more efficient use of public resources,” the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development said.

A Focus on Long-Term Performance

The goal is no longer simply to repair a road or clear a drainage channel. Contractors would be responsible for keeping infrastructure in good working condition throughout the life of the contract. As part of pilot projects planned for Douala and Yaoundé, selected companies could be required to meet specific performance standards. Failure to maintain those standards could result in financial penalties.

Several countries already use similar contracts to improve road maintenance and reduce the cost of recurring repairs. The model also encourages contractors to adopt durable technical solutions rather than relying on repeated short-term fixes. The initiative comes at a time when urban infrastructure is under growing pressure. Rapid urban growth, heavier traffic, and intense rainfall continue to strain roads and drainage networks in both Douala and Yaoundé.

The effects are visible across both cities: roads deteriorate quickly, flooding remains common in some neighborhoods, traffic congestion worsens, and transportation costs increase for residents and businesses.

Improving Returns on Public Spending

For many residents, the issue is not simply building new infrastructure but ensuring that existing infrastructure remains functional. Several urban roads rehabilitated in recent years showed signs of deterioration shortly after completion, raising questions about the effectiveness of current maintenance practices. Authorities also see an economic benefit in the new approach. By linking payments to measurable performance, they hope to generate better returns from public spending on urban infrastructure.

The challenge is particularly important given the scale of infrastructure needs and the limits of available public resources. For local governments, every franc spent on maintenance must produce visible and lasting results. The pilot projects in Douala and Yaoundé will serve as a real-world test. If successful, the model could be expanded to other cities across the country.

Its success, however, will depend on several factors, including clear contract specifications, reliable performance indicators, effective monitoring by local authorities, and enforceable penalties when contractors fail to meet their obligations.

Without those safeguards, the shift toward results-based maintenance could remain more of a policy objective than a meaningful change in how urban infrastructure is managed.

Source: Business in Cameroon