Major Chinese energy firm eyes greater share in Cameroon market

The Memve'ele hydro dam in Cameroon was successfully constructed by Sinohydro, PowerChina's subsidiary. Photo credit: Sinohydro

Chinese power company, PowerChina Group is interested in expanding its activities in Cameroon. Song Dongsheng, chairman of  Sinohydro, a PowerChina Group subsidiary, met Cameroon’s President Paul Biya on August 11 in the capital, Yaounde.

PowerChina official meets President Paul Biya

Speaking to State House correspondents, Song Dongsheng said his company was interested in assisting Cameroon to benefit from its huge energy potentials to boost its industrial development. He said PowerChina, through its subsidiary, Sinohydro, successfully completed the construction of the Memve’ele hydro dam on River Ntem, Ntem Valley division, South region.

Earlier the same day, the PowerChina delegation held discussions with Cameroon’s Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Basile Atangana Kouna. “We came to thank the Minister of Water Resources and Energy for the continuous support he has been offering PowerChina,” said Song. He said his company is interested in developing relations with Cameroon to put in place hydroelectric power plants as well as solar and gas energy facilities.

PowerChina has since its creation constructed 65 per cent of dams in China, including the famous Three Gorges dam

“The Minister’s good understanding of these issues assures us that we can develop our projects,” Song added. Discussions between Minister Basile Atangana Kouna and Song Dongsheng were followed by a brief working session between the visitors and officials of the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy.

PowerChina’s engagement in Cameroon

PowerChina has been involved in Cameroon’s hydroelectricity development since 2009 when one of its affiliate, Sinohydro, signed a contract to develop the 211 MW Memve’ele hydroelectric power plant. Between 2009 and 2017, the group has been engaged in the development of hydroelectric facilities in Bini-Warak (75 MW), Song Dong (270 MW), Menchum (72 MW), Nachtigal Aval (300 MW) and Kitot (720 MW).

In an address on December 31, 2016, President Paul Biya described Bini-Warak, Song Dong, Menchum and Nachtigal as second generation hydroelectric projects. PowerChina is the technical partner to develop a blueprint for the Bini-Warak, Song Dong and Menchum hydro projects. Sinohydro is also constructing the Ketta-Djoum road in the South region.

A major player in Africa

PowerChina is a well known player in Africa’s energy development through its subsidiary, Sinohydro, a Chinese construction firm founded in 1951 and specialized in building hydro dams. It recently opened a regional office in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire to cover 26 African countries. According to Engineering News Record, ENR, PowerChina ranks the 16th in the world in terms of conception and construction. Some 30 per cent of its revenue, 40 per cent of new contracts and 57 per cent of its profits are from foreign contracts.

PowerChina through its subsidiary, Sinohydro, is a major player in Africa's energy development. Photo: PowerChina.

Growing portfolio

In 2013, PowerChina executed 728 projects in 81 countries. It has constructed 65 per cent of dams in China since its creation and employs 130,000 workers in 80 countries. Also in 2013, Sinohydro won contracts worth 8 billion U.S. dollars. According to ENR, it is the world’s third largest construction firm in the area of power generation.

Kimeng Hilton Ndukong is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently on media attachment with People’s Daily Online in English.