Cameroon’s Kribi Gas Power Plant Resumes Service After Overcoming Debt Challenges

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The gas-fired power plant in Kribi, southern Cameroon, resumed operations on February 21 after being offline since September 2024 due to a dispute over an unpaid debt of CFA137 billion owed to Globeleq, the independent producer overseeing the Kribi (216 MW) and Dibamba (88 MW) plants. This debt was claimed from Eneo, the national power utility.

With the Kribi plant’s 216 MW capacity back online, it is expected to help stabilize the country’s energy supply and demand, supplying power to the South Interconnected Network (RIN) that serves seven of Cameroon’s ten regions. This announcement was made on February 26, 2025, by Gaston Eloundou Essombla, Cameroon’s Minister of Water and Energy, during the “Industry and Energy” panel at the inaugural Cameroon Economic Meetings hosted by the Groupement des entreprises du Cameroun (GECAM).

Minister Eloundou Essombla confirmed, “We reached an agreement with Globeleq last Friday (February 21), and the Kribi plant is now back in service,” but he did not disclose the details of the agreement. Sources indicated that Cameroon’s Treasury recently raised funds through public securities issued by BEAC to partially settle Eneo’s debt to Globeleq. The government has historically covered unpaid electricity bills from local authorities and state-owned enterprises like the Cameroon Aluminium Company (Alucam). Eneo estimates that the state and its entities owe over CFA100 billion, and the Treasury often intervenes to pay Eneo, which is then obligated to settle its debts with suppliers like Globeleq.

The reopening of the plant is anticipated to alleviate the power outages affecting households and businesses for several weeks. Despite the increased output from the Nachtigal Dam (420 MW), which is currently generating 360 MW, the country has been experiencing a daily electricity shortfall of up to 100 MW, according to energy sector experts.

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This shortage is primarily attributed to the Kribi gas plant’s closure, as well as low water levels and climate change, which have adversely impacted the output of other plants, including Songloulou (384 MW), Edéa (276 MW), and Memve’élé (211 MW). Minister Eloundou Essombla noted that the Memve’élé plant has faced complete halts due to low water levels in the Ntem River, its primary water source.