On Friday, June 26, 2026, the city of Douala pulsed with fresh energy. Mayor Roger Mbassa Ndine welcomed the newly installed executive committee of the Cameroonian Electricity Company (SOCADEL) for a decisive working session, held at the heart of the Douala Urban Community.
Leading the SOCADEL delegation were the Chief Executive Officer and his deputy, both recently sworn into their roles. Their presence symbolised the renewal of the public utility’s leadership, which has been responsible for the country’s electricity supply for decades. The meeting highlighted the shared ambitions of the municipality and the power company.
The dialogue first addressed SOCADEL’s core missions: ensuring reliable distribution, modernising the networks, and supporting rural and urban electrification projects. The officials outlined their action plans, including the rollout of smart meters and the reduction of chronic outages that cripple economic activity in the metropolis.
In parallel, the mayor outlined the areas of collaboration envisaged with the urban community. According to him, this involves targeted support for Douala’s flagship projects—industrial zones, residential districts and public infrastructure. The stated goal is to align SOCADEL’s works with the local development plan so that every new cable or transformer directly serves the needs of residents and businesses.
"Effective, results‑oriented governance is the foundation of Douala’s transformation," said Roger Mbassa Ndine. The statement summed up the main stake of the meeting: moving from reactive management to a proactive strategy, where energy performance becomes a lever for social progress. The mayor reminded that improving quality of life inevitably depends on stable electricity, a prerequisite for education, health and commercial activity.
For Doualans, the impact of the agreement is tangible. Better power supply means fewer outages during peak hours, greater reliability for small and medium enterprises, and an environment conducive to investment. In a country where the informal sector accounts for a large share of the economy, each additional kilowatt can translate into jobs and income for families.
However, the partnership’s success will hinge on the two parties’ ability to coordinate actions, secure the necessary financing, and monitor the commitments made. Challenges remain numerous: aging infrastructure, the need for staff training, and demands for transparency. The mayor therefore called for a collective mobilisation, involving users, private investors and national authorities, to ensure the projects’ sustainability.
The coming months will be crucial. SOCADEL plans to publish a detailed schedule of interventions, while the municipality commits to facilitating urban‑planning permits and mobilising local resources. This synergy could become a model of integrated urban governance, where energy is no longer a mere service but a driver of sustainable development.
Thus, the question facing all Douala stakeholders is whether they will turn these commitments into concrete realities, so that every household, shop and school enjoys uninterrupted light.
