CENTRAL AFRICA – The International Development Association (IDA), a subsidiary of the World Bank Group, has approved a loan of US$385 million for Cameroon-Chad power interconnection project.
The funds according to Africa Energy Portal will be used to finance a power interconnection project between the two Central African countries.
The total population directly concerned by the power interconnection project will be about 8.9 million, of which 6.5 million will be in Cameroon and 2.4 million in Chad.
Apart from the support of International Development Association (IDA), the project is also financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The Pan-African Bank based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, recently lent €226 million to the State of Cameroon for the implementation of the power interconnection project.
The Cameroon-Chad Power Interconnection Project will construct a 225 kV high voltage line between Ngaoundéré, Maroua (Cameroon) and Ndjamena (Chad).
The IDA funded power interconnection project will also involve A 225 kV high-voltage link which will be built to connect Maroua (Cameroon), Bongor, Guelendeng and Ndjamena (Chad).
Medium-voltage high-voltage transformer stations will be built along the corridors to enable the establishment of distribution networks for rural electrification.
The total length of the high-voltage lines to be built is approximately 1,024 km (786 km in Cameroon and 238 km in Chad).
Upon completion, the Cameroon-Chad power interconnection project will enable electricity trade between Cameroon and Chad and will also serve to increase access to electricity in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad.
IDA notes that energy services in Chad are among the lowest in the world. The World Bank in its 2018 report stated that more than 88% of Chad’s population has no access to electricity.
Lack of access to electricity according to IDA, has made communities to face difficulties in operating businesses and generating income, hampering poverty reduction efforts.
IDA explained that unequal access to electricity makes it difficult for both countries to realize the full potential of their human capital, and increases their vulnerability to climate change, natural disasters and pandemics.
The interconnection of electricity generation and transmission facilities in Cameroon and Chad will lead to significant gains in production costs for the direct benefit of national electricity companies.
The Cameroon-Chad electricity project will also, through the electrification of localities bordering the interconnection lines, increase the rate of access to electricity in the two countries and contribute in general to the improvement of living conditions of the populations and the fight against poverty.
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