CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
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Cameroon |
ECONOMY
Troublesome electricity cuts throughout the country; machinery getting older;
river and reservoir levels falling; increased demand for electricity; wastage...
All this means the electricity company, Aes-Sonel, must ration output
A new word has entered Cameroon’s vocabulary in recent years —«load-shedding». It’s all to do with a plan by the mainly American-owned electricity company, Aes-Sonel, to ration electricity.
A situation which coincides with the main dry season which extends from November to March. But electricity rationing continues until July.
For example, Emombo and Ekounou districts, south of Yaounde, are without electricity every Wednesday evening. The same goes for people living east of the capital.
Every one of Yaounde’s districts, just like the rest of the country, has its «load-shedding» days.
In spite of what Yaounde’s citizens say, the city is accorded preferential treatment. But Mr. Joseph Ndi Nsamba, founder of Radio Lumière, points out: «We’re sick and tired of the never-ending and inopportune electricity cuts.
Think of our listeners! When programmes are announced and we’ve done our best to get them ready for going on air, how can one work calmly when any moment the electricity is due to go on the blink — which can damage our equipment».
To get round this problem, Radio Lumière‘s promoter has found another energy source. He says: «I’ve just bought a power generating unit for more than six million CFA francs (9,160 euros). With our technicians’ help, this equipment cuts in to provide our installations with electricity a few seconds after Aes-Sonel which is unable to provide enough electricity for the country, packs up».
These power generating units are «à la mode» in Cameroon’s cities. Yaounde General Hospital and other public buildings have them. At the Africa Multimedia printing works, the employees are not yet accustomed to the whirring of their power generating unit.
Also, most newspaper offices are still feeling the effects of the incessant electricity cuts, especially as the publicised cut-out periods are not always respected. A sad situation which frequently means editors have to shorten their deadlines — reporters are none to pleased because they need time to cross-check their information.
Causes and remedies
According to Aes-Sonel, chief stakeholder in Cameroon’s National Electricity Company which was privatized in 2001, there’s several reasons why electricity has to be rationed in Cameroon’s cities and villages.
Mainly because there’s not been much by way of investment during the years preceding privatization — investment which should have ensured the grid’s reliability and increased its output, taking into account the growth in demand. The fact that the aging equipment has never been replaced means the grid has collapsed.
Marcel Niat Njifenji used to be Aes-Sonel’s general manager for twenty years before it was privatised by the Americans. His former colleagues are quick to point out that when they were running the show, there wasn’t any need for electricity rationing in Cameroon. «That’s not true», say Aes-Sonel’s present senior executives. «Rationing has been taking place for some time but not in Yaounde neither in Cameroon’s industrial areas such as those in Douala». Aes-Sonel is faced with the fact that it has to restore the grid to working order and increase production.
Another reason why electricity has had to be rationed in Cameroon is because the river and reservoir levels have fallen drastically compared to previous years. 90% of Cameroon’s electricity comes from hydro-electric power (there’s a dam on the River Sanaga, Cameroon’s main river). The southern grid in particular depends primarily on the fluctuating waters of this river and on water in the rain catchment reservoirs.
This year, the rains have filled the reservoirs to 81% of their capacity, but the river remains prone to frequent variations. Vis à vis the Sanaga Dam, the outflow is just about 15% of what it should normally be. Although the outflow is 10% higher than last year, it remains largely below the average.
At the same time, Cameroon’s sole electricity supply company, Aes-Sonel, must face up to the fact that demands are increasing. Energy requirements in Cameroon grow at an annual rate of approximately 8%. Moreover, each day, it increases on average by 60% between 18.00-22.00 in the evening.
Innumerable cases of dishonesty
Aes-Sonel’s task is made even more difficult by the innumerable cases of dishonesty. Unpaid bills now amount to nearly 20 billion CFA francs (some 30 million euros). These include invoices accumulated since June 2000. Then there’s people who steal electricity from the electricity pylons or who branch in to the main’s supply of ordinary customers who pay their bills on time.
Because of the increased energy requirements, Aes-Sonel has made notable investments, especially in the power stations running on diesel. However, the cost of fuel necessary for operating these power stations is far higher than income from the sale of the electricity. To produce thermal energy and to limit the selective power cuts during the dry season, Aes-Sonel must spend 50% more than what it receives from the average tariff.
To improve the state of the electricity supply grid and to limit the impact of selective power cuts, Aes-Sonel has announced a capital spending programme. 53 billion CFA francs are earmarked for grid improvements, with an additional 47 MW of power, new transformers, renovated hydroelectric turbines. Also, large-scale consumers have been requested to reduce their consumption below their contractual obligations. Aes-Sonel thus hopes to recover some 15 MW of electricity which it can pass on to the population. Customers who can’t or won’t pay have been given a final chance to come to an agreement with their electricity supplier, or else their electricity supply will be cut off.