Cameroon has officially launched construction work on a 225 kV high-voltage transmission line which will link the 216 MW Kribi gas-fired power plant to a new 225 kV transformer substation under construction at the Kribi port in Southern Cameroon.
The project was officially launched by Cameroon’s Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, on Wednesday in Kribi.
Construction of the substation and the transmission line connecting it to the Kribi gas plant marks a key milestone in the development of the Kribi industrial-port zone and in Cameroon’s broader industrialization strategy.
The line will be built by Cameroon’s Societe Nationale de Transport de L’electricite (Sonatrel) and will be completed by the end of 2026.
The total investment for the project is valued at $62.2 million (CFA35 billion).
The electricity transmission project comes as Cameroon plans to connect 8 million people to its national grid to achieve universal electricity access by 2030.
What you should know about the transmission project
In a statement by the Kribi Autonomous Port (PAK), the new substation will meet immediate demand estimated at 100 MW, while also preparing for future needs projected between 330 MW and 400 MW to support upcoming large-scale industrial operations.
The project will allow the exclusive supply of electricity to industries operating within the Kribi industrial-port zone, according to official sources.
In addition to the Kribi gas plant operated by Kribi Power Development Corporation (KPDC), the new substation will also be linked, via existing relay stations, to several other power facilities: Memve’ele (211 MW), Nachtigal (420 MW), Songloulou (384 MW), and Edéa (276 MW).
“This configuration ensures continuous operation even in case of disruption, providing maximum supply security for industrial users,” the statement read in part.
It added that the substation will also solve current issues in evacuating electricity from Nachtigal to high-demand industrial areas.
“This strategic project is expected to establish Kribi as Cameroon’s top industrial energy hub, encourage the arrival of energy-intensive industries, generate direct and indirect jobs during construction and operation, strengthen the financial stability of Cameroon’s power sector, and solidify Kribi’s role as a regional energy and logistics hub,” PAK stated.
