By Hafis Rüefli v Sándor*
Cameroon’s decision to renationalise its national electricity company marks one of the most consequential shifts in the country’s economic direction in years. After more than a decade of chronic power shortages, mounting public frustration, and an electricity system struggling to keep up with demand, the state has stepped back in—not as a reluctant actor, but as a central force determined to build a reliable energy future.
The move comes at a time when the nation is investing heavily in new hydroelectric dams, repositioning itself for industrial growth, and seeking long-term energy stability. For President Paul Biya’s government, this is far more than a bureaucratic takeover. It is a reset of national strategy, a return to fundamentals, and a reaffirmation of the state’s responsibility over a sector that touches every household, every business, and every ambition the country holds for itself.
For years, Cameroonians have lived with the consequences of an electricity system that faltered at critical moments. Blackouts became routine, hospitals and schools scrambled to find backup power, small businesses absorbed losses they could not afford, and consumers grew tired of billing inconsistencies, meter shortages, and endless service complaints. Private operators delivered some improvements, but the gap between national needs and actual performance grew wider each year, especially as urbanisation and industrial demand expanded rapidly.
Faced with this widening disconnect, renationalisation eventually became less of an option and more of an inevitability. A country cannot industrialise if its factories are silent. It cannot improve social welfare if its cities go dark. And it cannot attract serious investors if basic infrastructure remains unpredictable. By taking command of the sector, the government signalled an intention to reorganise, re-invest, and reassert coherence in a system where too many critical decisions had become fragmented across competing interests.
This decision aligns with President Biya’s wider development vision—one that has always placed sovereignty, infrastructure modernisation, and long-term national stability at the centre of policy thinking. Electricity is not simply a utility; it is the backbone of Cameroon’s economic transformation. In the vision outlined over the years, from structural reforms to Vision 2035, energy security has always been the foundation for industrial takeoff, the expansion of agro-industrial zones, the development of mining projects, and the strengthening of the country’s position as a regional hub in Central Africa. Renationalising the electricity company brings these goals under one roof, allowing the state to better synchronise planning, regulation, tariffs, and investment.
The return to state control also coincides with Cameroon’s most ambitious hydroelectric expansion in decades. Mega-projects like the Nachtigal dam on the Sanaga River promise to deliver one of the most significant boosts to national electricity output in modern history. Memve’ele, Lom Pangar, Kikot, and other planned dams form part of a long-term strategy to harness Cameroon’s enormous hydropower potential and stabilise year-round production. These investments, worth billions of dollars, require a utility capable of planning efficiently, maintaining infrastructure, and aligning production with national priorities. Renationalisation gives the government the ability to link generation, transmission, and distribution in a coherent energy policy, rather than relying on fragmented decision-making.
But beyond infrastructure and policy, this move speaks to something deeper: public trust. Electricity is a daily encounter for every Cameroonian, and when that encounter becomes unpredictable or unfair, confidence in the system erodes. By taking back the sector, the government seeks to rebuild that trust—to reassure consumers that bills can be fair, service can be improved, outages can be reduced, and rural electrification can move forward with purpose. It is an opportunity to reset the relationship between citizens and a service they cannot live without.
The stakes for industrialisation are equally high. Cameroon’s manufacturers—whether in Douala, Yaoundé, Bafoussam, or Limbe—have long complained that unreliable power is among their greatest obstacles to growth. Generators devour profits, production schedules collapse under outages, and foreign investors hesitate when energy stability is not guaranteed. A more reliable grid has the potential to transform the business landscape, enabling greater productivity, attracting new industries, and fueling job creation. With improved energy supply, the mining sector, agro-industry, construction, and services stand to expand significantly, strengthening Cameroon’s competitiveness and regional influence.
Challenges remain. Renationalisation alone does not repair broken lines, modernise grid systems, or resolve decades of underinvestment. The country still needs massive financing, more technical expertise, and a management approach that avoids the pitfalls of political interference. But the move gives Cameroon the authority and clarity it needs to negotiate better terms with development banks, align investments with national strategy, and bring accountability back into the heart of the electricity system.
For ordinary Cameroonians, the hope is simple: fewer blackouts, fairer bills, better service, and a sense that the country is finally turning the page on years of instability in the sector. For businesses, it opens the possibility of steady growth and greater confidence. For the state, it represents renewed sovereignty over a strategic resource. And for the future of Cameroon, it is a chance to transform hydropower potential into real economic power.
Renationalising the electricity company may well be remembered as one of the defining decisions of this decade—one that puts the country on a clearer path toward energy security, industrialisation, and a stronger, more resilient economy.
*Former UN Observer Member of International Peace Institute, IPI .
