The Bini a Warak hydroelectric dam project, located in the Adamawa region of Cameroon, is poised to restart after years of interruption. On March 31, 2026, the Ministry of Water and Energy announced a call for expressions of interest to recruit a consultant to conduct a comprehensive technical and financial audit of the project. This initiative aims to clarify the current state of the project before its relaunch with a new partner, the British company Savannah Energy.
Initially entrusted to the Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation Limited in 2013, the project aimed to build a 75 MW hydroelectric power plant. However, work was suspended in 2018 due to financial difficulties, including the suspension of funding by the Chinese bank ICBC. Despite the commitment of approximately 20 billion FCFA for preparatory work, the site has remained at a standstill.
The upcoming audit is crucial to assess the compliance of the work already carried out with contractual and international standards, certify the amounts invested, and review risk management. The consultant will also have to issue an independent opinion on the financial situation of the project, by verifying investments, accounting documents, and invoices. The audit will also cover the status of debt service execution and counterpart funds already mobilized.
In parallel with this audit, the project has been technically re-evaluated, with the integration of a 40 MW photovoltaic solar component, bringing the total capacity to 95 MW. This hybrid configuration aims to stabilize the energy supply in the northern regions of Cameroon, where demand far exceeds supply, due to the limitations of the Lagdo dam. Savannah Energy anticipates financial closure of the project in 2028, with commissioning of the solar component two years later and the hydroelectric plant approximately four years after. The finalization of the Bini a Warak project is expected by 2032.
The revival of Bini a Warak is a strategic issue for Cameroon, aiming to secure the electricity supply in the Adamawa, North, and Far North regions, while reducing dependence on costly thermal power plants. The government hopes that this audit will remove uncertainties and restore the confidence of partners to carry out this essential energy project.
