By Yusinyu Omer
The project to construct a Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant with a capacity of 1.4 MW in Mbakaou Carriere, Tibati Sub-Division, Djerem Division of Adamawa Region is a private initiative project carried out by IED invest Cameroon, jointly financed by the European Union within the framework of the energy facility and the State of Cameroon through the Rural Energy Fund (FER), hosted by the Rural Electrification Agency.
The main objective of the project is to supply electricity produced from a renewable energy source in underserved area currently powered by generators and will therefore lead to a net improvement in access rate to electricity in Tibati Sub-division.
This project consisted in the construction of a Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant in Mbakaou Carriere on the West of Djerem with an installed capacity of 1.4 MW in phase 1, with the possibility of doubling the installed capacity in the second phase and a distribution network including 40 km of three phase medium voltage MVJ Almelec lines with 148mmz to supply the town of Tibati, 10 km of single phase MV line to feed the 06 villages along the network, 20 km of low voltage distribution networks and 06 MVJLVstations.
Eventually, the project will electrify 300 new households in underserved communities and supply 2500 households in Tibati and Mbakaou. At this stage of the project, several activities have been carried out, namely:
The completion of the construction works of the Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant;
The installation of the electromechanical equipment;
The completion of construction works of the MVLV electrical networks between the Power Plant and the town of Tibati and in the six (6) localities located along the Mbakaou-Tibati road;
The upgrading by ENEO of the existing three phase MV electrical network from 1skvto yokv in the town of Tibati;
The interconnection between the MV network coming from the Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant and that of the town of Tibati;
- The connection of 300 new households;
- The setting up of the operation team for Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant;
The successful completion of all the tests on the equipment of the Power Plant,
The start of the commissioning tests on 22/12)2021;
The start on oslo1)2022 0fa 3o day probationary period;
The provisional reception of constructed structures and the beginning of the industrial operation
Who will benefit?
First of all, the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Mbakaou will supply six localities, namely Makendao, Liboum, Bonintíng, Naskoul, Gantang and Combo located along the Mbakaou-Tibati road, connect 300 new households in the underserved localities and supply 2500 households in Tibati and Mbakaou.
As a reminder, the towns of the o3 Sud divisions of the Djerem, namely Tibati, Banyo and Ngaoundal, are all supplied by a thermal gas plant operated by Eneo. In the short term, that is, when the Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant and the distribution networks are effectively put into use, the project benefits will be numerous for both the private users and the local communities.
Approximately, 2 500 users in the town of Tibati will benefit from improved electrical service with no change in the billing rate since the national rate will continue to apply. ln addition to the above, there will be a deduction in the service interruption and the possibility of using electricity with little or no fear of overloading the production capacity.