The Port Authority of Douala is taking a major step in its modernization strategy with the imminent launch of construction on its independent power plant. Backed by a large-scale public-private partnership, this energy project aims to ensure a sustainable supply for Cameroon’s main economic hub and strengthen its regional competitiveness.
In Douala-Bonabéri, the Port Authority of Douala (PAD) is preparing to launch, starting March 2026, one of the most ambitious energy projects in its recent history. This involves the construction of an independent power plant designed to continuously supply the port facilities, in a context marked by significant pressure on the urban grid and growing needs linked to the intensification of logistics activities.
The infrastructure, planned to have a final capacity of 300 megawatts, is intended not only to secure port operations but also, in the long term, to generate a surplus that will be fed into the Douala city grid.
Worth 628 billion FCFA, the project is governed by an agreement that was signed on September 12, 2025, between PAD and the Douala Port Power Corporation SA (DPPC), designated as the project owner. It is a 25-year public-private partnership of the Build-Operate-Transfer type, of which at the end the infrastructure will become public owned. The chosen model provides for financing entirely by the DPPC, without any financial guarantee from the Port Authority of Douala or the Cameroonian government, a point regularly emphasized by the port authorities.
The construction of the power plant was awarded to a consortium of Chinese companies under an EPC contract. GENERTEC CMC is leading the consortium, alongside China Energy, while JD Group is acting as consulting engineer. The Port Authority of Dakar (PAD) is providing project management assistance, ensuring the project’s compliance with its development master plan. The financing involves the Chinese government and several banking institutions, with CCA Bank acting as lead lender.
The projec is divided into two phases, expected to be executed within a period of 36-month. The first phase which will cost around 397 Billion FCFA is dedicated to the fonstruction of a 102 MW plant powered via a direct connection to the Kribi-Douala gas pipeline. This phase focuses on securing the port’s baseline operational needs.
The second phase, which is the Long-term Scaling worth 230 Billion FCFA is dedicated to ensure a gradual increase in capacity over 10 years to reach a total of 300 MW. This phase turns the port into a net energy producer, capable of exporting power to the surrounding city.
