Access To Electricity : Mini-Grids To Power Rural Communities

For many rural communities in Cameroon, constant electricity has long been a dream. But that could soon change. From April 15, 2025, the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy and the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation gathered their development partners as well as research experts in Yaounde to review and validate a new framework that will guide the use of mini and off-grid electricity networks across the country. 
Chaired by Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba, the workshop focused on how renewable energy can light up communities far from the national grid and will run till April 16.  According to a 2022 study by ESMAP (Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme), about 4 million Cameroonians in 8,000 rural localities have no access to electricity. Across Africa, over 300 million people, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa are in the same situation. The current law, governing electricity in Cameroon, makes no clear room for mini-grids. “That is why we need a study to define how they can be implemented, managed, and connected,” the Minister explained.
A key goal of the two-day event is to validate a 20-chapter Mini-Grid Code, a document that outlines tariffs, structure, and technical rules and possibly a national plan, drawing inspiration from the existing ones such as the National Development strategy (SND30). Experts from both public and private sectors are sharing ideas to help make other forms of energy paths including solar...