Water & Energy : Bridging Demand/Supply Shortfall

The importance of water and energy to the socio-economic growth of man and country, coupled with the interdependence of the two commodities, make their supply in quality and quantity a huge challenge worth surmounting for any government.  Gaps between demand and supply of the very important life and livelihood stimulants are common problems among most, if not all, Cameroonians. Logically, they desire improvement. Hopes are therefore high that the sector would certainly not receive the least of attention in President Paul Biya’s “Greatness and Hope” seven-year term of office that began on November 6, 2025.

Cost-Effective, Quality, Quantity Water Supply
It is known to everyone that Cameroon boasts of abundant water resources though challenges of uneven distribution in some areas as well as poor access and quality in others continue to stare the country in the face. This has pushed some citizens who do not have access to the precious liquid, may be as a result of poor access to Cameroon Water Utilities’ network, to resort to public springs, wells et al with generally doubtful quality. Government within the framework of the National Development Strategy strives to attain a near-universal access by 2030 with diverse projects in major cities and their environs like Yaounde and Douala. 
Even as all hands are crossed to see the projects come to fruition, government should not lose sight of the means of transporting the water from where it is or would be produced to houses and industries. As such, adaptable pipes should be acquired, solid installations made and maintenance assured so that some areas don’t struggle to have potable water while others see the liquid go in waste as a result of broken pipes unattended to. This would ascertain efficacy.

Clean, Consistent, Affordable Energy
The National Development Strategy for 2030, SND30, drawn up in 2020, identifies electricity as the key factor in achieving sustainable development goals and, consequently, sets universal access to electricity by 2030 as its ultimate goal. Government sources say between 2020 and 2024, the rate of access to electricity rose from 65% to 74%, thanks to sustained investment.
Despite what appears to be significant progress, much work remains to be done to stepping up reliable, affordable and sustainable energy production in quality and quantity so as to bridge the gap between rural and ur...