• Cameroon seeks $6.5B private investment for 2030 energy goals
• New laws, incentives to boost renewables, grid expansion, access
• Plan targets 100% electricity, 40% clean cooking access by 2030

Cameroon plans to attract $6.5 billion (about 3,674 billion CFA francs) in private investment to finance nearly half of its new National Energy Compact (CEN), a roadmap adopted this year, to drive a sustainable transformation of the power sector by 2030.

The CEN targets total funding of $12.5 billion (7,750 billion CFA francs), combining public resources, concessional loans, and private capital. The goal is to boost generation, expand transmission capacity, and improve distribution while accelerating the rollout of renewable energy.

To reduce investor risk, the government plans a series of policy and regulatory reforms. A new electricity law, expected by 2026, will clarify the rules for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in power generation and transmission and give investors greater certainty about project duration and returns. A one-stop agency will also be created to simplify investment procedures in the energy sector.

The government intends to promote renewables through a dedicated law setting technical standards, incentives, and licensing rules for mini-grids and standalone solar systems. A national strategy for the digitalization of the power sector will be rolled out starting in 2026, focusing on geospatial mapping for electricity access, digital project monitoring, coordination of energy–fiber infrastructure, and preparations for smart-grid integration.

To lower costs and ensure viable private projects, the state plans new financial instruments, including a payment stabilization or guarantee fund to cover temporary payment shortfalls. An incentive framework will support local manufacturing and recycling of electrical equipment, as well as the development of both grid-connected and off-grid infrastructure. The PPP model will also be used to finance power-transmission projects.

According to the supervising minister, these measures are expected to connect around eight million additional people to electricity and raise national access from 74% in 2025 to 100% by 2030.

The government also aims to increase the clean-cooking access rate to 40%, up from 23.4% in 2022, enabling about 1.7 million people a year to switch to LPG, eco-charcoal, electricity, or biogas. Renewables are projected to account for 10% of the national power mix by 2030.

Amina Malloum, Business in Cameroon