Lagdo Hydroelectric Power Station : Lawmakers Edified On Rehabilitation Works

The Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba has provided clarifications on the state of advancements in the rehabilitation of the Lagdo dam as well as the increase of its storage capacity. The Minister was responding to questions asked by Hon. Damdam Marie on June 24, 2022 during a plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril.
Providing explanations, Minister Eloundou Essomba said the main production structure in the North Interconnected Network, has been confronted for three years following a drastic drop in production, following a very unfavourable hydrology. “Indeed, the 72 MW capacity structure currently produces barely 9 MW, for lack of water to operate the turbines at full speed. With particular regard to the rehabilitation of this dam, it should be noted that this activity was entrusted to the company ENEO, following Amendment No. 3 to the framework concession contract and derivative contracts relating to the operation of several parts of the electricity sector in the territory of the Republic of Cameroon,” he explained, adding that it is an electro-mechanical rehabilitation to update certain equipment. Minister Essomba further stated that the turbines of the said dam are all operational and have no problem of silting. “In addition, the issue of 20% silting up of the reservoir cannot be the cause of the production deficit of the Lagdo dam, insofar as the water storage capacity of the said dam is more than 7 billion m3. However, the plant needs a volume of 4 billion m3 for normal operation. It is also important to specify that given the central role played by the Lagdo dam in the supply of electricity in the North Interconnected Network, certain works requiring shutdowns of all the groups must be done with the entry into service of the new production structure, in particular Bini in Warack, in order to avoid malfunctions in the supply of electricity in the Regions concerned,” he stated...