Hydroelectricity Projects and Sustainable Energy in Cameroon: A Legal Appraisal
Keywords:
Hydroelectricity, Electricity, Energy, Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Renewable EnergyAbstract
It is irrebuttable that human civilization today begins and ends with energy. It is a condition “sine qua non” for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Cameroon’s vision 2035. Cameroon has the second-largest hydropower potential in Africa, after the Democratic Republic of Congo... This paper examines the effectiveness of legal and institutional framework in the hydroelectricity sector in ensuring sustainable energy in Cameroon within the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite the existence of legal and institutional framework in the hydroelectricity sector in Cameroon, the cry for sustainable energy remains a “cry in the wilderness”. This work therefore rests on the premise that there exists no shortage of legal and institutional framework in the hydroelectricity sector in Cameroon yet, the gap between legal pronouncements and implementation is too wide. In order to realize this desired objective, the research employed a qualitative and quantitative reseach methodlogy. The researcher isolated some resource persons in strategic areas within the hydroelectricity sector to get a grabs on the challenges faced by the hydroelectricity sector in Cameroon. Though not given complete access to the desired
information, the hydroelectricity sector suffers inter alia from weak implementation of legal instruments and insufficient technical knowhow. This work therefore recommends among others, a strict implementation of the laws in the hydroelectricity sector via enabling instruments for the realization of hydropower projects, adapt to alternative energy sources by exploiting the legal
framework and develop local mini grids within the framework of decentralization.
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