Cameroon gets 420MW clean, green renewable energy boost
In late 2018, EAIF announced the financial close of its €50 million loan over 18 years to Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC). It will build a run-of-the-river hydro power station on the Sanaga River in Cameroon. The €1.26 billion plant will have an installed capacity of 420MW and supply Cameroon’s Southern Interconnected Grid.
The Nachtigal development is a key component in the Cameroon government’s National Electricity Development Plan, adding 30% to its base-load electricity supply. Its clean, renewable energy will benefit the country’s households, industry and environment and strengthen its business investment climate.
Nachtigal is a run-of-the-river facility that includes a concrete dam 1,455 metres-long and 13.6 meters high; a reservoir of approximately 4km2, a “headrace” channel 3.3km in length and 14m deep; a 5 MVA hydro generating unit; a powerhouse of 7 60MW turbines; step-up transformers; approximately 50km of transmission lines carrying power to the nearest grid sub-station; and a permanent 6.5km road.
1500 people will have jobs in readying the site for construction, building the infrastructure, installing the generation technology and safety and communications systems and in catering, security and allied services. It is estimated that around 150 new permanent jobs will be created when the Nachtigal station becomes operational.
