CI-NEWS

SONATREL to the rescue of NW Region

2019-08-12

No: 440

SONATREL to the rescue of NW Region.

By Etoh Anzah George in Bamenda.

Owing to the barbaric vandalisation on a 90kv high tension multi iron linked tower of about 100m length stationed in Mbatu (a village in the Bamenda 2 municipality), the population of Bamenda and the North West region as a whole have since the 20th day of May been praying for longer days than nights owing to the darkness that comes with the nights, coupled with the lack of electricity supply. Described as an electricity auto route, the transmission line stationed about 2000 meters away from the Mbatu dam has over time been one of the linkages and carriage ways that bears 3 high tension multi plated wires and a lone optic fibre line. The cutting of the tower by unknown men resulted in black outs which were seen in all parts of the North West region. Authorities resorted to rationing in a bid to ensure partial satisfaction of the consumers.

Those days of suffering appear now to be over. Victor Mbemi Nyaknga, the Director General of The National Transmission Company ( NATCO), a company specialized in electricity supply, has gone firefighting after sealing a deal with ENEO to resolve the crisis. The company has dispatched a delegation to the affected site with a restoration motive.

A fulfilled director told the press that "the work is now complete. Owing to the damage, the North West region had been in blackouts but as of now all has been restored. After a complete reinstallation of the tower, I decided to come down my self to appraise the work done together with administrative officials in a bid to ensure all has been completed. I am glad the tower is on again and it is therefore imperative that this good work is preserved.”

Hailing the breakthrough, Mbemi said: “At the verge of school resumption our children will need electricity for their studies; businesses will need it for their transactions and even the common man in his humble abode needs it for his day-to-day nourishment of what ever sort".

The National Transmission Company (NATCO) popularly known by its French acronym SONATREL before now has spent over a week to instil normalcy in the region. While warning that a cut and damage of such a public utility is not only harmful to the population but equally to the harmer himself, he further revealed that owing to the destruction it cost the government one billion (1.000.000.000) weekly to use a thermal power electricity supply when the transmission tower is down.

“We are all Cameroonians and we need electricity to survive so we must protect that which is ours for obvious reasons,” he appealed.

To Victor Mbemi Nyaknga, the setup of such a facility is expensive and besides the constitutional electricity supplier (ENEO) had been faced with these difficulties, reason why they were brought in.

ENEO, it emerged, found it difficult to lay hands on the damaged equipment. Worse still in such cases payments must be done upfront. That is why, The Horizon learnt, the present tower was detached from a NATCO training site in Edea for a setup at its new and eventual post.

Accompanied by the SG and Chief of Cabinet at the NW Governor’s Office and the SDO for Mezam, the team equally visited the electricity control room in which the director and others were briefed on the thermal power distribution before, during and after the restorational and instilling phase.

At the popular Matgenie post, it was revealed that the over 90 KV electricity power line extends its range to Mamfe and Ekok , thus revealing the vastness and wide coverage capacity. The 3 buttons board representing the 3 subdivisions that make up Bamenda were managed for an almost 8 hours partitional range with technicians braving the odds to move right into the night (4am) to ensure they keep up with their obligation of getting supply to the population during the days of the discrepancies.

It was equally revealed that other divisions though controlled from this base are interlinked and a damage or shortage would mean a complete and total black out. Prior to the SONATREL boss’ visit, the North West region was in a temporary black out. A joint switch on the button by the SG and the NATCO Director General entailed free flow of electricity.

At the 3rd and final appraisal stop, the team visited the ENEO power plant where information on the management, supply and distribution of electricity was made public with the officials revealing the difficulties owing to the mishaps.

It should be noted this is not the first time the North West region is witnessing power shortage but this recent scenario is more alarming. Consequently to the SONATREL GM, diverse and multiple measures must be implemented to ensure safety and a protection of potentials. As such, the population can in their own way set up a local vigilante group to ensure its proper protection, and sensitization of the population on the dangers of coming anywhere close to the tower or indulging in any such hideous act. He further saluted the efforts of administrative, security and other external collaborators for their assistance in the re-establishment of the pole.

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SONATREL to the rescue of NW Region