iPAD Cameroon launches in Yaounde in Dec as Cameroon emerges as next power investment destination

YAOUNDE, Cameroon - Nov. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- Cameroon’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, H.E. Basile Atangana Kouna, will officially open the inaugural iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum on 1 December as more than 200 utility experts, financiers and prospective investors gather in Yaoundé to focus on fast-tracking the country’s development.

For more than ten years, the unique iPAD conference and expo model has been facilitating the integration of infrastructure within the region (DRC, Rwanda, Mozambique, Angola), with the aim of developing a solid a reliable power and energy network. Says Elodie Delagneau, iPAD Cameroon event director: “Cameroon is open for business and the iPAD format is perfect for this country as the government is keen to facilitate development and expansion of its power infrastructure and the opportunities are immense. Cameroon is ready to welcome investors, project developers, technical partners and financiers looking at investing in the country, and the key partners are available to develop national plans and consolidate the expansion of synergies and partnerships in transmission and distribution.”

Official and industry support
iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum enjoys the official support of the Cameroon Ministry of Water Resources and Energy and the programme will feature many high-level government representatives who will be on hand to answer questions from the private sector. Globeleq, a successful private investor in the country’s power sector, will also share its best practice experience. The power company is also the exclusive diamond sponsor for the event. Other well-known industry supporters are: Aggreko, Altaaqa Global and Siemens.

Says Elodie Delagneau: “the opportunities in Cameroon are very exciting. Over 50 energy projects are available and being submitted to tenders and bids in order to fast track the development of the industry. Already more than 30% of the government budget goes to public projects (such the Lon Pangar Dam), but significant private investment is required to support such growth.”

She adds: “Cameroon government recently set 2035 as a target of becoming an emerging economy; hence the investment friendly regime that has been implemented to stimulate foreign direct investments. The government is implementing national power development plans to achieve by 2020 in order to reach 75% electrification rate and 20% rural electrification, currently standing at 7%.”

According to Delagneau IPAD Cameroon is coming at an opportune time, “especially with the evident energy need and deficit in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. We will provide the platform to stimulate major investment in this young, developing energy economy and untapped opportunity-first to market”.

More on Cameroon’s energy profile
Although renewable energy comprises only 1% of the whole territory’s current capacity where preliminary investments are still being promoted, tremendous opportunities in generation projects are being projected, including hydropower, solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and more recently gas, with the discovery of significant gas and LNG reserves.

The hydroelectric power potential of Cameroon is second only to DRC in Africa, estimated at around 23 000 MW, but the currently installed capacity represents only about 4% of this technically feasible exploitable supply.

Confirmed, key speakers and topics at iPAD Cameroon will include:

-       Driving Cameroon’s energy sector: Vision 2035 and Strategy for Growth and Employment 2010-2019
H.E Basile Atangana Kouna, Minister, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Cameroon

-       Boosting power capacities through enabling frameworks
Jean Pierre Ghonnang, Director of Electricity, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Cameroon

-       Bringing private investment into Cameroon: lessons from an IPP pioneer
Frédéric Mvondo, Managing Director, Globeleq, Cameroon

-       A brief outline of Cameroon’s tax regime: legal constraints for land leasing and regulation?
Elias Pungong, Senior Partner, E&Y, Cameroon

-       The electricity tariff scheme and structure explained
JeanPierre Kedi, CEO,  Agence de Régulation du Secteur de l'Electricité, Cameroon

The iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

iPAD Cameroon dates and location:
Conference: 1-2 December 2015
Location:  Hilton Hotel, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Website:  http://www.ipad-cameroon.com

Contact:
Communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone:  +27 21 700 3558
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.com