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Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station

Coordinates: 02°23′47″N 10°23′56″E / 2.39639°N 10.39889°E / 2.39639; 10.39889
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Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station
Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Cameroon
Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station
Map of Cameroon showing the location of Memve'ele HPP
Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Africa
Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station
Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station (Africa)
Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Earth
Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station
Memve'ele Hydroelectric Power Station (Earth)
CountryCameroon
LocationNyabissan, Ntem Valey Département, South Region (Cameroon)
Coordinates02°23′47″N 10°23′56″E / 2.39639°N 10.39889°E / 2.39639; 10.39889
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction beganJune 2012
Opening dateApril 2019
Construction costUS$831.6 million
Owner(s)Government of Cameroon
Operator(s)Electricity Development Corporation (EDC)
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsNtem River
Commission dateDecember 2022 Expected
Installed capacity211 megawatts (283,000 hp)
Annual generation1,187 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]

Location

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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]

Overview

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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]

Construction costs

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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]

Funding

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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

Operations

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The energy generated at this power station is sold to Eneo Cameroon SA, the national electricity utility company.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 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}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Road Distance Between Nyabissan, Cameroon And Ebolowa, Cameroon" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Road Distance Between Nyabissan, Cameroon And Yaoundé, Cameroon" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
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