- Cameroon is set to deploy two solar power plants to boost the power supply to the north as AFCON 2022 approaches.
- The region has seen increasing power cuts following allowing energy production from the Lagdo dam.
Cameroonian authorities are set to install solar power plants with a cumulative capacity of 30MWp to boost energy supply in the country’s north to enable people in the region to watch the African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2022) matches. Cameroon will host the tournament from January 9 to February 6, 2022. Two solar plants set to be installed by January will provide electricity to the North, Adamaoua and the Far North regions. A containerized modular solar power plant with a capacity of 15MWp will be deployed in Guider in the North region. At the same time, the other 15MWp will provide energy to Maroua in the Far North region. In addition, a 10MW thermal power plant will be installed in Guider to boost supply.
The plants are expected to boost the regions’ grid – the North Interconnected Network (RIN) over time. Cameroon’s government currently spends about 140 million CFA francs per day (215,000 euros) to provide fuel oil in the north. However, insufficient rainfall in the Benue River watershed has reduced power production from the Lagdo dam. The government believes that solar solutions will improve the power supply in the region.