Kikot Hydroelectric Power Station


The Kikot Hydroelectric Power Station, is a planned 500 megawatt run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station under development in Cameroon across the Sanaga River. The development rights were granted to Kikot Hydro Power Company, a special purpose vehicle company, owned by Électricité de France and the Government of Cameroon. A long-term power purchase agreement is yet to be signed between Eneo Cameroon S.A. and KHPC.

Location

The dam lies across the Sanaga River, about, as the crow flies, north-west of Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon. The road distance is about. The power station would straddle Sanaga River across the border between the Littoral Region and the Centre Region of the country.

Overview

In November 2019, EDF signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Cameroon, to jointly build a power station, across the Sanaga River, downstream of the Nachtigal Hydroelectric Power Station with generation capacity between 450 and 700 megawatts. In June the MOU was upgraded to a development agreement between EDF and the GOC.
According to EDF, the period between 2022 and 2024 is being used to form the SPV company, carry out environmental and feasibly studies, source funding and reach financial close and related milestones including signing the PPA. Construction would then start in 2025, with commercial commissioning expected in 2030.

Ownership

The power station is owned by the special purpose company named Kikot Hydro Power Company. The table below illustrates the shareholding in KHPC.
RankShareholderDomicilePercentageNotes
1Électricité de FranceFrance
2Government of CameroonCameroon
Total

Construction costs

The estimated costs for the dam and power plant is CFA 650 billion also in October 2023. The World Bank Group, particularly the International Finance Corporation are expected to be major funders in this project.

Timeline and commissioning

According to EDF construction is expected to commence in 2025. Commercial commissioning is expected in 2030.