Cameroon has received a 35 Billion FCFA loan from the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), aimed at electrifying over 200 rural areas nationwide. This follows a decree by President Paul Biya on February 06, 2023, permitting the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey to take out the said loan on behalf of the state.
The rural electrification loan according to The Guardian Post, accounts for a portion of the third phase of a photovoltaic system-driven initiative birthed in 2016. The project, it noted, had as primary target, the electrification of some 1000 communities through use of the system.
The first pbhase, the media outfit reported, was executed thanks to a 53 Billion FCFA loan from Chinese technical partner, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd that permitted 166 solar power plants to be developed.
It added that government received a 71 Billion FCFA loan from the Bank of China to light up 184 communities for the second phase. Despite the huge sums borrowed, the initiative is yet to attain half of its 100 communities targeted.
A majority of rural communities in Cameroon remain in darkness. The few that have power, remain susceptible to frequent power cuts. On June 28, 2021, Water and Energy Minister, Gaston Eloundou Essomba told parliament 9,000 communities out of 13,104 still had no access to electricity across the national territory.
Poise News Desk
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