Cameroon’s power grid is under increasing strain due to rapid urbanization and industrial expansion. Aging infrastructure has struggled to keep pace, leading to risks of blackouts and constraints on economic activity.
The National Electricity Transmission Company (Sonatrel) is at the forefront of modernizing the grid. In recent years, it has ramped up investments to enhance capacity and reliability, particularly in industrial and port hubs like Douala and Kribi.
Sonatrel has commissioned seven power transformers, adding a total of 335 MVA to the grid. Three 60 MVA transformers will be installed at Logbaba, a key substation in the Southern Interconnected Grid. Kribi and Bekoko will each receive a 50 MVA transformer, while PROMETAL will benefit from a 75 MVA unit. A seventh 50 MVA transformer will be kept as a strategic reserve to address outages or urgent needs. A past incident in Bekoko during the Pope’s visit to Cameroon had reduced its capacity to 36 MVA, underscoring the need for this upgrade. The new equipment aims to restore operational flexibility and meet Cameroon’s growing electricity demand.
This deployment is part of a broader strategy to modernize Cameroon’s power grid. With demand rising steadily, especially in industrial zones like Douala and Kribi, Sonatrel is working to eliminate bottlenecks that hinder economic development.
The focus on Logbaba, Kribi, and Bekoko is strategic. These substations are critical nodes in the Southern Interconnected Grid, supplying major economic hubs. Strengthening them will secure power supply and reduce outage risks—a vital concern for local businesses and foreign investors.
For Africa, this investment reflects a broader trend: countries are prioritizing robust energy infrastructure to fuel growth. Cameroon’s project positions it as a key player in stabilizing Central Africa’s power grid.
In the short term, the upgrade should improve power quality in targeted areas, reducing blackouts and disruptions for households and businesses. For industries like PROMETAL, it means greater capacity to expand operations without fear of outages.
Long-term, this modernization could attract new investments, particularly in energy-intensive sectors like metallurgy and agro-processing. It also aligns with a regional vision to stabilize Central Africa’s power grid, where cross-border interconnections are increasingly vital.
With this deployment, Cameroon takes a significant step toward securing its power grid. If successful, these investments could serve as a model for other African nations facing similar challenges. The question remains how Sonatrel will sustain this momentum amid ever-growing demand.
