- Cameroon’s electricity regulator ARSEL plans to hire a consultant to finalise the tender documents for an audit of the massive Nachtigal hydropower project (NHPC).
- . It is Cameroon’s largest hydroelectric plant, single-handedly increasing the country’s installed capacity by 30 per cent.
Cameroon’s electricity regulator ARSEL plans to hire a consultant to finalise the tender documents for an audit of the development and construction costs of the massive Nachtigal hydropower project (NHPC), one of the country’s largest energy investments.
The requested services include collecting all available data, defining the general audit approach, identifying key issues for the mission, and establishing the audit’s overall structure.
Also, the selected firm will also define the composition of the team that will assist the regulator in conducting the audit and estimate its total cost. Crucially, the firm will be responsible for preparing the complete consultation file for the eventual recruitment of the consultant who will execute the full cost audit.
The estimated budget for this preparatory service is 40 million CFA francs. The regulator, ARSEL, specified that the tender is open to Cameroonian companies that can demonstrate the necessary technical and financial capacity and experience. The maximum deadline for the preparatory mission is 45 days from the date the service order is issued.
The Nachtigal Dam, built at a cost of 786 billion CFA francs, is now operational and injects 420 megawatts (MW) into the national power grid.
It is Cameroon‘s largest hydroelectric plant, single-handedly increasing the country’s installed capacity by 30 per cent. Beyond strengthening national energy security, the project reduces reliance on costly thermal backup power plants, generating significant savings on fuel.
The project also plays a role in regional energy integration. Under the framework of the Cameroon-Chad Power Grid Interconnection Project (PIRECT), Cameroon plans to export 100 MW of electricity to its neighbor, Chad, starting in 2027, reinforcing its ambition to become a Central African energy hub.
Through the announced audit, authorities aim to ensure transparency and reliability regarding the costs associated with this major infrastructure project, which will remain a key reference in the Cameroonian energy sector.
Furthermore, the Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC) is owned by a consortium of shareholders: EDF (40%), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) (20%), the State of Cameroon (15%), Africa 50 (15%), and Stoa (10%).