During an official working visit to Douala on July 9, 2026, Cameroon’s Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, promised that the government would deliver 10 MW of electrical power to ACERO METAL SARL within 90 days.
This crucial energy supply will allow the steel company to commission its newly completed production unit. The high-profile visit included key administrative, diplomatic, and energy sector leaders, highlighting the state’s collaborative approach to supporting major industrial projects.
The concrete commitment directly addresses a severe energy bottleneck that has long stifled the company’s growth. While ACERO METAL’s facilities boast a maximum capacity of 250,000 tons of steel per year, limited power availability has kept its actual output restricted to just 60,000 tons annually. Operating currently on 12 MW, the company requires an immediate boost to kickstart expansion, with long-term goals demanding up to 40 MW for full operational efficiency.
The immediate impact of this 10 MW allocation will be a massive win for the local economy, directly triggering the creation of nearly 1,200 new jobs. The newly built factory unit is entirely finished and simply waiting on this additional power—estimated between 10 and 14 MW—to begin operations. For the local workforce, the government’s swift intervention transforms a stagnant, idle factory into an active hub of employment and manufacturing.
This initiative is part of a broader, aggressive state strategy to modernize Cameroon’s electrical grid and align infrastructure with economic demand. The Minister’s stop in Douala followed inspections of the country’s second energy evacuation corridor, where contractors were held to strict project deadlines. By going straight to the industrialists, the ministry is ensuring that recent public investments in the power grid directly serve the practical needs of national production.
Ultimately, by guaranteeing the power lines are charged within 90 days, the Cameroonian government is demonstrating how energy can be used as a primary lever for economic transformation.
Removing these infrastructural hurdles not only enables ACERO METAL to scale up its steel output but also signals a welcoming environment for future industrial investors. It marks a decisive step toward making the nation’s industry more competitive on the global stage.
