The operation deprives the Southern Interconnected Network of a major installed power capacity of 216 MW managed by Globeleq's KPDC subsidiary, risking targeted power outages in the metropolises of Douala and Yaounde as well as in the industrial perimeter of the port of Kribi.

The technical shutdown comes at a critical moment in the gas supply policy. Since July, the fuel extracted from the Sanaga Sud field (previously processed on the Hilli Episeyo floating unit) has been directly redirected to the Kribi turbines to fill the national load deficit. The full activation of other hydraulic and thermal works in support aims to offset the temporary unavailability of the gas complex and contain the decline in distributed production capacities on the Southern line.

The temporary freeze on the 216 MW revives concerns about the fragility of industrial supply in a sectoral context weakened by old payment arrears. Two months after a reduction in injection at the Kribi and Dibamba facilities linked to financial disputes with the operator, the suspension of gas deliveries highlights the dependence of the electrical system on thermal relay infrastructure. The success of maintenance operations on the pipeline determines the rapid return of the necessary megawatt volumes for the stability of the country's economic activities.

The temporary unavailability of gas thermal power plants underscores the need to consolidate power reserves to protect the industrial fabric against the recurrence of supply shocks. The production losses caused by power outages weigh heavily on the balance sheets of processing companies, limiting the profitability of significant investments made in port areas. The completion of the overhaul work will secure the transport network before the onset of the high energy demand period at the end of the year.


Nlend Flore

Tags: énergie gaz kribi cameroun électricité industrie infrastructure économie approvisionnement