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Project At a Glance

25 %

increase in Cameroon’s generation capacity

1 m

tons of CO2 emissions expected to be avoided annually

1500

jobs created


Nachtigal Falls, Cameroon

Africa50-Project Finance

Nachtigal Amont HPP is a 420 MW hydropower plant under construction on the Sanaga River, 65 kilometres from Yaoundé, with a 50-kilometer transmission line to Nyom. It is expected to be completed in about five years at a cost of around €1.2 billion and it will be operated under a 35-year concession.

The project reached financial close in December 2018. The African Development Bank is a lender to the project.

Impact

Productivity

  • The plant is expected to increase Cameroon’s generation capacity by more than 25%, improving access to electricity for consumers.
  • The lower prices from hydropower are expected to improve the long-term financial sustainability of the sector, making electricity more accessible to the poor, and saving consumers about US$100 million over a seven-year period.

Environment

  • The plant is expected to help raise the share of renewables in Cameroon’s energy mix to 75% by 2022 and avoid the emission of one million tons of CO2 annually/

Employment

  • The project is expected to create up to 1,500 direct jobs during construction (65% locally sourced), and many permanent jobs upon completion

 

Africa50's Role

Africa50 acquired 15% of the equity stake in the Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC) from the Government of Cameroon.

Partners

Electricité de France (EDF), International Finance Corporation (IFC), STOA Infra&Energy (Fund), Government of Cameroon (GoC)

Project Photos

Aerial view of the building of the nachtigal project. Large sandy land next to a body of water.
Aerial view of the building of the nachtigal project. Large sandy land next to a body of water.
Aerial view of a nachtigal_building
Aerial view of a nachtigal_building
On a drained river bed, a crane and builders work on the hydropower machine
On a drained river bed, a crane and builders work on the hydropower machine
An aerial view of a concrete construction which will be the main power station. Six cranes are working to move building materials.
An aerial view of a concrete construction which will be the main power station. Six cranes are working to move building materials.
An aerial view of the upstream area of the Nachtigal Hydropower plant. There is no water, but sand. Drained to work on the hydropower plant.
An aerial view of the upstream area of the Nachtigal Hydropower plant. There is no water, but sand. Drained to work on the hydropower plant.
Press Conference for the Nachtigal Hydropower, room with tables and people talking.
Press Conference for the Nachtigal Hydropower, room with tables and people talking.
A room with people sat at tables, talking to one another.
A room with people sat at tables, talking to one another.
Two men representing Minfi and DG/Africa50 clapping.
Two men representing Minfi and DG/Africa50 clapping.
Reporters with microphones asking a man questions.
Reporters with microphones asking a man questions.
3D mock up of the Nachtigal hydropower dam.
3D mock up of the Nachtigal hydropower dam.