EDF, IFC and the Republic of Cameroon sign final and binding agreements for 420 MW hydropower project

EDF, IFC, and the Republic of Cameroon signed final and binding agreements for the construction of the Nachtigal hydropower plant.

The project entails the design and construction of a 420-MW hydropower project on the Sanaga river near the Nachtigal Falls, located 65 km to the north-east of Yaoundé, as well as the operation of this facility for a period of 35 years. It also includes the construction of a 50-km power transmission line. The project will be owned and operated by NHPC (Nachtigal Hydro Power Company), currently owned by EDF (40%), IFC (30%) and the Republic of Cameroon (30%).

Nachtigal is a national priority which will enhance the reliability of the country’s power system. Its expected power generation will cover 30% of the country’s electricity demand, amounting to an annual output of nearly 3TWh. The power generated by the project will be sold to the grid operator via a Power Purchase Agreement at a competitive tariff, thereby benefitting Cameroonian consumers. The project will generate substantial economic benefits: up to 1,500 direct jobs during peak construction periods, of which 65% will be locally sourced within a 65-km radius of the construction site.

This signing marks the conclusion of all key agreements and contracts relating to the construction, operation, and financing of the infrastructure. This was achieved thanks to complementary skills of the three shareholders: EDF’s unparalleled technical capabilities in hydro power schemes, IFC’s sector knowledge and structuring capabilities for large infrastructure projects in Emerging Markets, and the Government of Cameroon’s support for the development of a strategic asset for the country.

The project’s expected total cost is €1.2 billion. Shareholders’ equity will fund a quarter of the project cost while the rest will be funded by lenders. The lender group coordinated by IFC includes 11 development finance institutions and 4 local commercial banks. IFC was involved as a partner at an early stage to help develop the project through IFC InfraVentures and is the global coordinator of the financing package. Nachtigal will be the largest hydropower project ever built in Africa through project finance, a funding scheme that has already proven effective in the renewables sector, and the largest hydropower project supported by the World Bank Group in Africa.

With 430 hydroelectric operations around the world, the EDF Group undertakes to apply the highest standards of safety as well as social and environmental responsibility. Along with the construction of the dam, there will also be a regional socio-economic development programme, built around initiatives identified through consultations with local stakeholders. EDF will be harnessing its experience from the Nam Theun 2 dam project in Laos where it provided socio-economic support, recently recognized by independent experts.

Construction will begin by the end of 2018, when the financial closing is completed. The dam is due to be commissioned in 2023.