By Noela E. BISONG & Doh J. Sonkey
The government of Cameroon has regained control over the management of its electricity sector, The Energy of Cameroon, ENEO.
In an official statement signed by the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze and his counterpart of Water and Energy, Eloundou Essomba Gaston, they inform that, Cameroon has acquired 51% of the Share Capital of ENEO which was under British Company, ACTIS. The Sale and Purchase Agreement signed by the two ministers is said to mark the beginning of a new chapter, including one of ambitions, responsibility and challenges for the electricity company.
The move by the state to reclaim management of ENEO is backed by the argument that, government aims to strengthen its economic sovereignty, consolidate national capacities in the electricity sector and ensure coherence governance of enterprises deemed to be of strategic interest.
“We wish to assure all ENEO employees that this acquisition does not alter their rights or responsibilities”, the statement reads in part.
It also points out that, “The workforce remains at the heart of ENEO’s success, and their dedication, skills, and innovative spirit must continue to drive the company forward and improve the public service of electricity for the customers.”
Until the early 2000s, the State of Cameroon had managed its electricity sector, from SONEL, when current Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji was once General Manager. The body was later privatised to the Americans, under AES SONEL, and later to ENEO under British outfit ACTIS. Recall that in 2014, Actis bought its assets in the American group AES-Sonel for an amount of 220 million dollars, or approximately FCFA 135 billion.
The electricity sector in Cameroon was privatised with the hope of efficient management and better services offered. Nonetheless, due to the growth in demand marked by numerous power outages amongst other challenges, it is believed that the State is again taking the bull by its horns to meet the energy needs of Cameroonians.
Gov’t to stabilise energy supply in Cameroon
Government has announced a series of measures to stabilise energy supply in the country after taking back 95% of the shares from ENEO Cameroon. This announcement was made by Communication Minister and Government Spokesperson, Rene Emmanuel Sadi and the Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Gaston Eloundou Essomba as they jointly granted a press briefing last November 21, 2025 in the auditorium of the Ministry of Communication in Yaoundé.
Speaking in the presence of their collaborators, Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi said, ‘‘the Government of the Republic, represented by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Water Resources and Energy, signed last November 19, 2025 an agreement to buy back the 51% stake previously held by ACTIS in ENEO’s capital for 78 billion CFA francs. This makes the State of Cameroon the main shareholder of this public entity, now in control of 95% of the capital. Through this strategic and historic agreement, the State of Cameroon is therefore regaining back almost all of the management of this company, which is at the heart of a key sector of our economy, a major pillar of our energy sovereignty, and whose impact on the country’s overall development and progress is well established. It may be worth recalling that, it is on 12 September 2014, that the Government of the Republic, seeking a strategic partner in this sector, identified and selected the British equity fund ACTIS.’’
Government Spokesperson reiterated that they ‘‘intend henceforth to stabilise the electricity sector on a solid footing, and strengthening the State’s energy sovereignty in this highly strategic sector.’’
On his part, the Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba said, ‘‘the President of the Republic issued clear instructions to initiate operations leading to the renationalisation of the distribution company on the one hand, and to propose a plan of priority actions to recover this key sector on the other.’’
The Water Resources and Energy boss further explained that, ‘‘once the 78 billion CFA francs have been paid, the State will appoint a new management team. The 3,600 Cameroonian employees will continue to carry out their activities normally. The Government has already taken steps to protect these employees’ rights and social benefits. Government intends to implement the actions of the Priority electricity sector Recovery Plan contained in its energy compact, that received the support of major development partners, including the World Bank and the African Development Bank, in New York on 28 September 2025.’’
Varied reactions to the deal
An oberver by name Eugène Nyambal reacts that, “I would never, as a Cameroonian, have approved either the setup of the takeover of ENEO, nor the scandalous PPP of Nachtigal.
I nevertheless recognize that the government took a positive action by purchasing ENEO. But the cost to taxpayers is exorbitant.”
He details that, “I am scandalized by what is happening in terms of the budget and the real cost of the acquisition of ENEO which is 78 billion, to which we must add:
(1) the maintenance cost of the Song Loulou and Lagdo dams of nearly 280 billion, not carried out by ENEO in accordance with the concession specifications;
(2) an additional debt of 120 billion per year from the Nachtigal dam, linked to the off-take agreement stipulating that ENEO must pay electricity to the EDF consortium 10 billion FCFA per month (whether the electricity is consumed or not), with a State guarantee.”
Another observer points out that, “It must be said that Yaoundé is taking control of a company in difficulty. As of December 31, 2024, Eneo was carrying a colossal debt of 800 billion FCFA with its suppliers (DPDC, KPDC, SONARA, EDC, SONATREL, etc.) and local banks. A debt which has accumulated due to multiple unpaid bills upstream, mainly those of companies and public establishments to which ENEO supplies electricity. According to data from the Ministry of Water and Energy, the company does not have enough resources to cover its operating expenses.”