2024-02-11 16:13:25
Inaugurated with great fanfare on May 23, the Lom Pangar hydroelectric dam, in the Eastern region, is experiencing setbacks in its operational phase. Despite 240 billion FCFA invested to date and a first turbine already in service, service providers working on the site are facing significant unpaid bills. Explanations.
Colossal funding
Let us first recall the scale of the Lom Pangar project, Cameroon’s largest hydroelectric dam. Its staggering cost is currently estimated at 240.9 billion FCFA. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has already invested 32 billion FCFA, or 13% of this overall budget.
Objective: 30 megawatts
Concretely, this giant dam should make it possible to store 6 billion m3 of water to supply a downstream power plant with a capacity of 30 megawatts. Enough to strengthen the region’s electricity supply.
Aggrieved providers
But on the ground, the situation is less rosy. According to our information, service providers responsible for work on the dam site are facing significant payment delays. A slate estimated at nearly 19 billion FCFA!
Anger of the people
Worse, the local populations affected by this project are still awaiting full payment of the promised compensation, estimated at 171 million. A situation which creates tensions around this emblematic construction site for Cameroon.
Promises of regularization
Faced with this discontent, the administrative authority recently guaranteed the establishment in 2023 of a budget of 19 billion intended to settle these arrears. The service providers and villagers concerned are now entitled to expect concrete actions in this direction. To be continued…