Cameroon has pledged to deliver an additional 10 megawatts (MW) of electricity within 90 days to enable steel manufacturer ACERO METAL SARL to launch a new production unit in Douala, a move expected to create nearly 1,200 jobs and boost domestic steel output.
The commitment was made by Minister of Water and Energy Gaston Eloundou Essomba during a visit to the company’s facilities on July 9. The additional power will allow ACERO METAL to commission a production line that has already been completed but remains idle because of insufficient electricity supply.
ACERO METAL currently produces about 60,000 tons of steel per year, despite having an installed production capacity of 250,000 tons annually. Company officials told the minister that electricity shortages remain the main obstacle preventing the plant from operating at full capacity.
The company currently receives 12 MW of electricity but estimates it needs around 40 MW to fully utilize its existing facilities and support future expansion. Bringing the new production unit online alone requires an additional 10 to 14 MW.
In response, Eloundou Essomba said the government would make 10 MW available within the next three months, describing the measure as part of broader efforts to remove energy bottlenecks that continue to constrain industrial development.
According to the Ministry of Water and Energy, the additional electricity will allow ACERO METAL to begin operating its new production line immediately after the power is delivered. Beyond the expected creation of nearly 1,200 jobs, the expansion is expected to increase domestic steel production, reduce reliance on imports and strengthen industrial activity in the Littoral region.
The visit was part of a broader government effort to assess whether investments in electricity infrastructure are meeting the needs of major industrial users. Earlier in the week, the minister also met contractors working on Cameroon’s second electricity evacuation corridor, urging them to keep the project on schedule to improve power delivery across the country.
Mercy Fosoh
