Development of a sustainable public lighting project

Although public lighting accounts for more than half of Cameroon’s public electricity expenditure, the related infrastructure is mostly outdated. The quality of service provided to the inhabitants is insufficient. A technical diagnosis carried out on 7,400 light points (about 10% of the Douala’s fleet) revealed that 66% of luminaires and 30% of supports (poles, candelabra) are in an advanced state of degradation.

Moreover, lighting sources are mostly energy intensive (SHP lamps and fluorescent balloons). Light-emitting diode (LED) technology accounts for only 20% of the total energy consumption. This outdated and aging public lighting network is very energy-intensive. A centralized management system would allow for more optimal asset management.

In 2022, the Urban Community of Douala (CUD) therefore called on the initiative of the CoM SSA – through Proparco and AFD – to finance support for the structuring of a program to rehabilitate and extend its public lighting system.