Cameroon’s Association of United Councils and Cities, which represents the country’s 374 municipalities, on February 6 defended a project to install 21,000 solar streetlights in urban areas, following public controversy over the contract award.
The debate was triggered by a recently disclosed letter from the Secretary General of the Presidency to the Minister of Public Contracts, stating that the CFA21.4 billion contract had been awarded under an emergency procedure to French company Sunna Design. The revelation prompted questions in public opinion over the project’s legitimacy and cost. The CVUC said the project is genuine and involves “no overpricing.”
In a statement, the association said the project, known as LUMCAM, is based on a “finance–build” model under which the selected company would handle financing, supply, and installation, backed by a six-year guarantee. The CVUC said the initiative goes beyond public lighting, citing expected benefits including improved security, training for 800 municipal staff, the creation of more than 3,000 jobs, and technology transfer, with plans for a future assembly unit in Cameroon.
On costs, CVUC president and mayor of Yaoundé 7 Augustin Tamba did not dispute the total amount of CFA21.4 billion but said comparisons with a similar project in Togo were misleading. According to him, the PEPS project in Togo involved an average cost of CFA904,712 per streetlight, including supply, installation, training, and maintenance.
In Cameroon, the installation cost per unit under LUMCAM would amount to CFA1,019,048. The CVUC described the project as a turnkey operation that also includes a warranty and a local industrialization component. The association said the price difference reflects the nature of the contract and additional commitments related to jobs, training, and technology transfer.
Sunna Design, named as the future contract holder, was founded in 2011 and presents itself as France’s leading designer and manufacturer of smart, sustainable, and connected solar streetlights. The company says it has deployed more than 160,000 solar solutions in 60 countries.
Ludovic Amara
