The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved funding for a study on a power interconnection project between Cameroon and Chad. The project aims to develop a power transmission line of 700 km between Ngaoundere, Maroua (Cameroon) and N'Djamena (Chad), a ramp of 250 km between Maroua (Cameroon), and Mogrom Ndjamena (Chad), and a rural electrification program along each line corridor. The study's length is 20 months from January 2014 and its cost is estimated at about US$4.6m, of which US$3.78m from the AfDB.
The two countries have significant energy resources. Cameroon's hydropower potential is estimated at 12,000 MW. However, only 6% of this potential is used. In Chad, gas resources are still untapped and the country has significant potential in solar and wind energy. The interconnection would create synergies between the countries' productions and strengthen their electricity trade. The implementation of this project will improve the very low national electrification rates of the two countries and strengthen cooperation and regional integration in Central Africa.