Construction of the 420MW Nachtigal hydropower project on the Sanaga River in Cameroon has crossed 93% completion, and the first turbine is due to be commissioned this month.

The independent power project is being developed by Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC) under a 35-year concession.

NHPC is a special purpose vehicle comprising France’s EDF (40%), the IFC (20%), the Cameroon government (15%), Africa50 (15%) and impact fund STOA (10%).

The €1.2 billion (US$1.3 billion) project entails the construction of a 1.5km-long and 14-metre-high dam, with a 3.3km headrace channel, and a power plant housing seven 60MW turbines.

Belgium’s BESIX, France’s NGE Contracting and Morocco’s SGTM are executing the main civil works, while Spain’s Elecnor is undertaking the electro-mechanical works in consortium with the US’ GE Renewable Energy.

As of the end of March, the civil works had reached 94.5% completion, while the electro-mechanical works were 89.4% finished. The full commissioning of the plant is due by the end of this year.

Once fully operational, the Nachtigal facility will be able to meet 30% of Cameroon’s power needs. Installation of the 50km-long 225kv transmission lines connecting the plant to the grid were completed by France's Bouygues Energy & Services in September 2021. The transformer substation was energised at the end of February.