According to Cameroon’s Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), China is the country’s leading donor in several key areas such as the construction of basic social infrastructure. China has financed through loans several drinking water supply projects in the country’s main cities and towns. This has helped to improve the living conditions of people at the grassroots level.
In 2014, the cities of Bafoussam in the west, Bamenda in the northwest, and Kribi and Sangmelima in the south benefitted from the first phase of a water supply project, with the funding of about 1.06 billion yuan ($146 million) provided by Exim Bank of China. As part of this project, Cameroon’s Minister of Water Resources and Energy Gaston Eloundou Essomba launched in September 2023 work on water supply in the cities of Garoua-Boulaï in the east, Garoua in the north, Maroua in far north, Dschang in the west and Yabassi in the littoral region. The second phase of this project is carried out by China’s CGCOC Group and has the funding of about 715.8 million yuan ($98.6 million). Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation (CAMWATER), the project owner, will begin to receive water from this project by the end of 2024.
Blaise Moussa, general manager of CAMWATER
The other water project in the portfolio of this bilateral cooperation involves improving drinking water supply in the city of Douala. The first phase of this project was executed Blaise Moussa, general manager of CAMWATER in 2008-2009 with a funding of about 170.5 million yuan ($23.5 million), and the second phase was completed in 2014 with a funding of about $114.3 million. This project has equipped the city of Douala with modern drinking water supply infrastructure such as the Yato water treatment plant.
“The water supply project for the city of Douala is a concrete example of the cooperation between Cameroon and China, which is aimed at solving the urgent problems of the people. We want to welcome the bilateral cooperation between our two countries, which over the years has contributed to the development of Cameroon,” said Blaise Moussa, general manager of CAMWATER.
The Cameroonian government will soon inaugurate the drinking water supply project in the city of Yaounde and its surrounding areas. This project is being executed by Chinese company SINOMACH. A flagship cooperation project between the two countries, this project aims to permanently solve the water shortage in the city of Yaounde. It has the capacity to supply 300,000 cubic metres of water per day, expandable to 400,000 cubic metres.
Besides the capital city of Yaounde, other localities such as Soa, Mbankomo, Mfou, Batchenga and Sa’a will also receive water from this facility. It is one of the largest drinking water supply projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is fully supported by the leaders of the two countries: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cameroonian President Paul Biya.
