Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station (original) (raw)
Power station in Cameroon
Dam in Ntem Valey Département, South Region
| Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station | |
|---|---|
  Map of Cameroon showing the location of Memve'ele HPPShow map of Cameroon Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station (Africa)Show map of Africa Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station (Earth)Show map of Earth |
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| Country | Cameroon |
| Location | Nyabissan, Ntem Valey Département, South Region (Cameroon) |
| Coordinates | 02°23′47″N 10°23′56″E / 2.39639°N 10.39889°E / 2.39639; 10.39889 |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | June 2012 |
| Opening date | April 2019 |
| Construction cost | US$831.6 million |
| Owner(s) | Government of Cameroon |
| Operator(s) | Electricity Development Corporation (EDC) |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Ntem River |
| Commission date | December 2022 Expected |
| Installed capacity | 211 megawatts (283,000 hp) |
| Annual generation | 1,187 GWh |
Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station is a 211 megawatt hydroelectric power station in Cameroon. Construction of this dam began in April 2012 and the dam produced its first 80 megawatts in April 2019. Full commercial operations are expected to begin once the 225 kiloVolt high voltage transmission line to Yaounde is completed.[1][2]
The power station is located at the village of Nyabissan, in Ntem Valey Département, in the South Region of Cameroon, across the Ntem River. Nyabissan is located approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi), by road, southwest of Ebolowa, the nearest large town.[3]
Nyabissan is located approximately 296 kilometres (184 mi), by road, southwest of Yaoundé, Cameroon's capital and second largest city.[4]
The development of this power station was originally led by a consortium comprising Globeleq and Sud Energie, based in the United Kingdom. In May 2009, that consortium backed out of the deal. That same year, Sinohydro, the Chinese state-owned construction company took over the development rights, as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor.[5]
According to online reports, the construction phase began in earnest after the EPC contract with Sinohydro was executed in April 2012. The design calls for an earth fill dam measuring 20 metres (66 ft) high, creating a reservoir lake containing 19,000,000 cubic metres (670,978,668 cu ft) of water.[6]
The design also calls for a 225kV high voltage evacuation line from the power station to Yaoundé, where most of the generated energy is destined. The installation of three 225kV/90kV transformers at Ebolowa, Nkoumou and Ahala, is part of the design.[6]
Due to multiple delays, the cost for this project has kept increasing over time. In May 2009, the cost estimates were €556 million (approx. US$795 million).[5] As of August 2021, total cost for all the project components totaled US$831.6 million (approx. €727.2 million).[1] As of December 2021, €5 million (approx. US$5.7 million) was still needed to compensate landowners, in order to allow the completion of the high voltage electricity evacuation line.[2]
The table below illustrates the funding sources for the power station, evacuation line and associated infrastructure, including electricity substations.[1]
Sources of Funding for Isimba Hydroelectric Power Station
| Rank | Name of Development Partner | Funding in USD (Millions) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exim Bank of China | 531.6 | 63.9 |
| 2 | African Development Bank | 190.0 | 22.9 |
| 3 | Government of Cameroon | 110.0 | 13.2 |
| Total | 831.6 | 100.00 |
The energy generated at this power station is sold to Eneo Cameroon SA, the national electricity utility company.[2]
- ^ a b c Emmalogo555 (15 August 2021). "Memve'ele dam in Cameroon to be fully operational by December". Construction Review Online. Nairobi, Kenya. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
{{[cite web](/wiki/Template:Cite%5Fweb "Template:Cite web")}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Benoit-Ivan Wansi (16 December 2021). "Cameroon: €5 million in compensation delays the commissioning of the Memve'ele dam". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Road Distance Between Nyabissan, Cameroon And Ebolowa, Cameroon" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Road Distance Between Nyabissan, Cameroon And Yaoundé, Cameroon" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ a b Tansa Musa, Mark John and Dan Lalor (31 August 2009). "China's Sinohydro has deal for Cameroon dam project". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ a b Elvis Teke (15 April 2019). "Memve'ele Hydroelectric plant: The project to light the South region and beyond almost complete". Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV). Yaounde, Cameroon. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- Provisional Reception of the Memve'ele Hydroelectric Dam As of 8 May 2018.