WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

1.2 Middle Africa
Matty Fombong, Rural World Resources, Cameroon
Introduction to the region
The Middle African region comprises nine countries:
Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Equatorial
Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe. All the
countries belong to the Economic Community of
Central African States (ECCAS) and the Central African
Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).
The region is characterized by the Congo Basin, which
is home to one of the largest tropical forest and
wetland reserves. In addition, the region holds a vast,
but largely untapped, mining, mineral and agricultural
potential. The climate varies from tropical to semiarid;
in a few cases a desert environment can be
found.
Table 1
Overview of countries in Middle Africa
Country
Population
(million)
Rural
population
(%)
Electricity
access
(%)
Installed electrical
capacity
(MW)
Electricity
generation
(GWh/year)
Installed
hydropower
capacity
(MW)
Hydropower
generation
(GWh/year)
Angola abc 18.056 70.0 26.2 1 300 4 172 782.4 3 141
Cameroon ab 20.129 47.9 48.7 816 5 700 720.0 4 232
Central African
5.057 61.0 3.0 46 160 24.6 130
Republic ade
Dem. Rep. of
73.599 65.7 11.1 2 442 7 452 2 403.4 7 509
Congo ab
São Tomé and
0.183 38.0 60.0 16 41 9.0 10
Príncipe a
Total 117.024 - - 4620 17 615 3939.4 15 022
Sources:
a. International Energy Agency 1
b. International Journal on Hydropower and Dams 2
c. Sigma Group 3
d. International Renewable Energy Agency 4
e. Clean Energy Portal Reegle 5
Notes: Electricity generation data is mostly available for 2008, while annual hydropower generation is available for 2010.
Table 1 provides overview information on the five
countries (Angola, Cameroon, Central African
Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, São Tomé
and Príncipe) for which detailed country reports are
available.
The region has the continent’s largest hydro-electric
potential and there is considerable interstate
cooperation in the field of hydropower electricity
generation. 7 The countries are members of the
Central African Power Pool (CAPP) created in 2003,
with the vision to use the Central African hydropower
potential, estimated at more than 650 TWh/year.
CAPP aimed to develop the hydro potential via interconnected
national networks, inter alia, which would
in turn create a free regional electricity market,
increase access to electricity to rural populations,
improve the reliability of the electricity system and
quality of supply in the whole region, thus reducing
poverty and encouraging development.
In comparison with the other sub-regions of the
continent, the Central African sub-region stands out as
the one with the least infrastructure network, in
particular transport and energy, which negatively
impacts the production capacities and regional trade,
as well as, the social conditions and welfare. 6 It is also
the least populated sub-region and has the lowest
GDP. 7 Additionally, it contains five post-conflict
countries (i.e. Angola, Central African Republic,
Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and
Chad) and an underdeveloped private sector. 6
Small hydropower definition
The concept of small hydropower was introduced to
the region less than a decade ago; therefore no official
definition of small hydropower exists currently.
Regional overview
Four out of the nine countries (Angola, Central African
Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and São
Tomé and Príncipe) use small hydropower (table 2).
Cameroon previously used small hydropower and has
considerable potential that can be tapped into. Chad,
on the other hand, does not use hydropower and has
no significant hydro potential, since a large part of its
area falls under the Sahara desert. Equatorial Guinea
is looking towards tapping into its substantial large
hydropower potential, while its small hydropower
resource potential has not yet been assessed. 2 Gabon
has several large hydropower plants and one of the
highest potentials for hydropower in Africa. It is
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