At the center of multiple complaints from users, the company controlled by the British Actis ensures both the production, distribution and sale of electrical energy in Cameroon.
By Lucien Bodo
Permanent game of sparks between Eneo and its customers. The situation is such that sometimes, the mere mention of this company during a conversation is enough to create an electric atmosphere. For many indeed, its name is synonymous with load shedding, and any incident on the network is attributed to it. The company that has since been controlled by the British Actis 2014 has indeed once been in charge of almost all aspects of the business. electricity in Cameroon. But, faced with the observed failures, the State has made several changes to try to improve this public service.
These modifications are enshrined in the law of 10 December 2011 governing the electricity sector, as well as its implementing decree of 17 September 2012. Texts which inaugurate the entry on the scene of new actors for the management of this field at the same time vast and sensitive. Thus, within the meaning of amendment number 3 (1 st November 2018) of the contract that binds it to the State of Cameroon, Eneo now only deals with part of the production , ensures the distribution and manages the sale of electrical energy.
Production
In the “Production” portfolio of the company headed by Eric Mansuy, there are three hydroelectric power stations: Song-Loulou (with a capacity of 384 MW), Edea (276 Mw) and Lagdo (63 Mw). Eneo also operates three reservoir dams for the regulation of the Sanaga River: Bamendjin, Mbakaou and Mapé. In order to achieve its production objectives, the company also uses thermal energy.
Six diesel-powered plants are thus connected to the network: Oyomabang in Yaoundé, Bassa in Douala (Stopped since the gas plant was installed), Logbaba II (Douala), Bafoussam , (Stopped since the PTU Bamenda power plant was commissioned) and Limbe (Stopped for works). To this are added 25 small isolated power stations spread over the whole of the national territory. In total, according to its annual activity report of 2018, Eneo has an installed capacity of 999 Mw.
Due to the state of the network and the general quality of the infrastructure, which is very dilapidated, a new investment period has been granted. The 1 era goes from the signature of rider number 3 to 2018 until 31 December 2018; the 2 e period extends from 1 st January 2019 at 31 December 2026; and the last one is between January 1 st January 2027 and the 31 December 2027. During this calendar window, Eneo will have to undertake to rehabilitate the production works of Song-Loulou, Edéa and Lagdo. In the field, these titanic works have already started in several compartments of these different infrastructures.
According to its contract, Eneo must also create, at the latest the 14 July 2020, a subsidiary of Cameroonian law intended to manage the production component. It will transfer to this subsidiary, of which it will have all the securities and voting rights, all the assets, rights and obligations relating to this activity.
Distribution and sales
For years, Eneo has also provided transport and management of the energy transport network produced in the various power plants in the country. The reorganization of the sector means that this part now falls to the National Electricity Transport Company, created in 2014, but only deployed effectively in the field since January 1 st January 2019. In addition to the production in certain works, Eneo therefore only deals with the distribution network.
This consists of conveying energy from the HV / MV transformer to the end customer. It allows electrical energy to be transported on a local scale, from distribution centers to the end customer: small and medium-sized businesses, cities, supermarkets, shops, craftsmen, individuals, etc. The company is organized into nine electrical regions to provide this service: Douala, Littoral and South-West, West and North-West, Center, South, Yaoundé, Sanaga Ocean, North and East.
Eneo’s contract should have ended in 2021. But the company requested and benefited from an extension of 07 years. What now binds it to Cameroon until 10 July 2031. During this period, its investments must also focus on improving access to electricity. According to its own estimates, the company claims to be able to improve the current situation by 1.5% per year (between 2018 and 2021), 2, 25% per year (between 2022 and 2022) and 2, 25% per year (between 2027 and 2031).
An operation not at all easy due to the deterioration of the distribution infrastructures which are sometimes the cause of multiple breakdowns. To solve this problem, the electrician has opted for a replacement of the wooden poles at the end of the cycle. The company also buys energy from independent producers to increase its distribution offer.
Moreover, Eneo is engaged in a vast project to modernize distribution through the use of technology. This mainly takes the form of updating the metering systems and associated services, as well as the acquisition of software which makes it possible to study the behavior of the distribution network and to anticipate possible failures. Modernization has also seen the emergence of possibilities such as the payment of bills by mobile money or the installation of prepaid meters.
Receivables
Financially, Eneo’s activity is regularly disrupted by cash flow problems. According to its general manager, at the end 2019, the electrician owed more than 155 billion CFA francs to its suppliers, some of whom have stopped supplying it for a certain period. Situation causing regular power cuts.
At the same time, still at the end of last year, the debt owed to the electrician amounted to more than 155 billions Fcfa including 63 billion CFA francs held only by public companies or public capital in Cameroon. The State has promised to pay an initial amount of 44 billion CFA francs by going to the public securities market of the Bank of Central African States.
Eneo in brief
Shareholding : Actis (51%), State of Cameroon (31%) and staff (5%);
Installed capacity : 384 Mw;
Field of intervention : Production , distribution and sale of electricity;
General manager : Eric Mansuy;
Effective : 3697 employees (2018);
Contract end date : 17 July 2031.
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