Page 11 - AfrElec Week 25

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

(IDA), a subsidiary of the World Bank Group,
has approved a $385mn loan for Cameroon
and Chad. The funds will be used to finance
an electricity interconnection project between
the two Central African countries.
The project will enable electricity trade
between Cameroon and Chad. It will also
serve to increase access to electricity in
N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. According to
the IDA, energy services in Chad are among
the lowest in the world. In its 2018 report,
the World Bank states that more than 88% of
Chad’s population has no access to electricity.
“Communities face difficulties in operating
businesses and generating income, hampering
poverty reduction efforts. In addition, unequal
access to electricity makes it difficult for
both countries to realise the full potential
of their human capital, and increases their
vulnerability to climate change, natural
disasters and pandemics,” said the IDA.
The Cameroon-Chad Power
Interconnection Project will construct a 225
kV high voltage line between Ngaoundéré,
Maroua (Cameroon) and Ndjamena (Chad).
A 225 kV high-voltage link will be built
House of Representatives (HoR) – in Tripoli. to connect Maroua (Cameroon), Bongor,
His report typifies the accountability Guelendeng and Ndjamena (Chad). The
vacuum that Libya suffers with all state total length of the high-voltage lines to be
entities that are accountable to parliament POWER CUTS built is approximately 1,024 km (786 km in
(HoR) working in a vacuum. This has led Cameroon and 238 km in Chad).
to much conflict between the Tripoli based Uganda struck by According to the AfDB, the Cameroon-
Libyan government, the Tripoli based Central Chad Power Interconnection Project will
Bank of Libya (CBL) and the Tripoli based countrywide power benefit local electricity companies. This is the
Audit Bureau. case with the National Electricity Company
With no properly functioning elected shutdown (SNE) in Chad, the National Electricity
sovereign parliament to hold them Transportation Company (Sonatrel) in
accountable and act as referee and decide On June 21, Uganda’s nationalised power Cameroon, the Rural Electrification Agency
where their powers start and end, the three generation company stated that Uganda was (AER) in Chad and Eneo in Cameroon. These
bodies have been at loggerheads for years over strike by a countrywide power outage. companies will benefit from the electricity
spheres of influence and authority. The Uganda Electricity Transmission transmission and distribution infrastructure
On Libya’s huge power generation deficit Company Limited (UETCL) stated in a tweet set up under the project.
since the 2011 revolution, the Audit Bureau that the reason of the power shutdown is not
head blamed the General Electricity Company up till now acknowledged.
of Libya GECOL, Central Bank of Libya The UETCL stated that “We are a
(CBL) and government advisors. experiencing a nationwide blackout, METERS
Shakshak accused Libya’s state electricity investigations are ongoing to determine the
company, GECOL, of serious mismanagement cause. Bear with us as we work on restoration. IFC to invest $10mn in meter
that has contributed to Libya’s chronic Any inconveniences are highly regrettable,”.
electricity shortage. He specifically accused The company added that the country on manufacturer Globaltronics
it of wasting LD 3 bn in new construction May 9 was also strike by a power collapse
contracts for new power stations of which whose reason was not identified. The International Finance Corporation (IFC)
he said not even one percent had been announced Sunday a $10 million investment
implemented. fund to Egypt’s Globaltronics S.A.E.
He said GECOL insisted on signing new The fund is dedicated to expanding the
electricity generation contracts instead of GRID company’s production and installation of
following the report that recommended prepaid smart electric meters in support
spending money on maintenance of IDA lends a $385mn to of the government’s energy reforms, which
existing power plants. Spending money on will improve the accuracy of power bills and
maintenance would have been much more Chad, Cameroon provide consumers with numerous payment
cost efficient, he said, and insisted this is still options, the IFC noted in a press release.
the case now. The International Development Association These smart meters will also help

Week 25 25•June•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P11