The government of Cameroon has announced the official launch of the Cameroon-Chad Interconnection Project (PIRECT project), a bilateral high-voltage interconnection project, which will involve the installation of 1,556 km of new transmission lines between the two countries. 1,318 km of lines will be located in Cameroon, while the remaining 238 km will be in Chad. The project, which was financed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to the tune of US$750m, is expected to be completed by 2027.
The project is divided into two phases, with a first phase that will see the installation of a 514 km, 225 kV transmission line within Cameroon that will connect the cities of Ntui and Woro Soua. This first phase will connect the South Interconnected Network (RIS), which brings together six regions of Cameroon, to the North Interconnected Network (RIN), which brings together the three northern regions of the country.
The second phase represents the interconnection proper, with 800 km of lines to be installed between the two countries, and which will be able to power 409 localities in Cameroon and 69 in Chad. The interconnector will be fed by the 420 MW Nachtigal dam, currently under construction, and will export 100 MW to Chad.