Enéo Cameroon S.A.

Enéo Cameroon S.A. is the principal electricity operator in Cameroon, responsible for the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electrical energy across the country. The company traces its origins to the Société Nationale d'Électricité du Cameroun (SONEL), created on 18 May 1974. It absorbed POWERCAM the following year and was privatised in 2001, when AES Sirocco Limited, a subsidiary of the American AES Corporation, acquired 51% of the capital, with the Cameroonian State retaining 44% and employees 5%. The company then became known as AES Sonel. In May 2014 the British investment fund Actis took control of 56% of the capital, and on 12 September 2014 the company was renamed Enéo Cameroon SA. In 2017 Actis revised its stake to 51%, with employees holding 5% and the State 44%. Since June 2015, Enéo Cameroon S.A. has been a subsidiary of Actis, and its activities are governed by a Concession Agreement signed between the Government of Cameroon and Actis. In 2025 the Cameroonian State bought back Actis's 51% stake, and on 4 May 2026, by presidential decree, Eneo became SOCADEL (Société Camerounaise d'Électricité), renationalising the electricity company. Enéo operates an installed generation capacity of 968 MW from 39 power plants, of which 74% is hydroelectric. Its transmission network includes 24 substations and 1,944.29 km of high-voltage lines, 15,081.48 km of medium-voltage lines and 15,209.25 km of low-voltage lines. The distribution network comprises 11,450 km of 5.5–33 kV lines and 11,158 km of 220–380 kV lines. The company serves over 973,250 customers, about 45% of whom live in Douala and Yaoundé, and employs 3,765 permanent staff. Enéo offers prepaid meters, an online agency called MyEasyLight for subscription management and bill payment, and various customer services. It ranks among the top companies in Cameroon and Africa, placing 2nd in Cameroon and 197th in Africa in the 2022 ranking of the top 500 African companies.

The history of Enéo Cameroon is closely tied to the electrification of Cameroon. The company was created on 18 May 1974 as the Société Nationale d'Électricité du Cameroun (SONEL). In 1975 it absorbed POWERCAM, consolidating its role as the national electricity utility. For decades SONEL operated as a state-owned monopoly responsible for the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. In 2001, the company was privatised: AES Sirocco Limited, a subsidiary of the American AES Corporation, acquired 51% of the share capital, while the Cameroonian State retained 44% and employees 5%. Following this privatisation, the company was renamed AES Sonel. Under AES ownership, the company continued to supply power across Cameroon, but faced challenges common to many African utilities, including aging infrastructure and the need for investment. In May 2014, the British investment fund Actis took control of 56% of the capital, with the State holding 44%. On 12 September 2014, the company was renamed Enéo Cameroon SA. In 2017, Actis adjusted its stake to 51%, with employees holding 5% and the State 44%. Since June 2015, Enéo Cameroon S.A. has been a subsidiary of Actis, and its activities are governed by a Concession Agreement signed between the Government of Cameroon and Actis. The company has invested in expanding generation capacity, including the Yassa gas power plant with 20 MW guaranteed capacity, and has rolled out prepaid meters and digital services such as MyEasyLight. In 2025, the Cameroonian State bought back Actis's 51% stake, and on 4 May 2026, by presidential decree, Eneo became SOCADEL (Société Camerounaise d'Électricité), renationalising the electricity company. Throughout its history, Enéo has been the dominant electricity provider in Cameroon, serving over 973,250 customers and employing 3,765 permanent staff, with a generation fleet of 39 power plants and an extensive transmission and distribution network.

• Creation of Société Nationale d'Électricité du Cameroun (SONEL).

• SONEL absorbs POWERCAM.

• Privatisation: AES Sirocco Limited acquires 51%, State retains 44%, employees 5%; company becomes AES Sonel.

• Actis takes control of 56% of the capital.

• Company renamed Enéo Cameroon SA.

• Enéo Cameroon S.A. becomes a subsidiary of Actis.

• Actis revises its stake to 51%, employees hold 5%, State 44%.

• Cameroonian State buys back Actis's 51% stake.

• By presidential decree, Eneo becomes SOCADEL (Société Camerounaise d'Électricité), renationalising the company.

Cameroon's historic main electricity company and leading power operator, providing services to individuals and businesses.

• Electricity generation

  Installed generation capacity of 968 MW from 39 power plants, 74% hydro.

• Electricity transmission

  24 substations, 1,944.29 km high-voltage lines, 15,081.48 km medium-voltage lines, 15,209.25 km low-voltage lines.

• Electricity distribution

  11,450 km of 5.5–33 kV lines and 11,158 km of 220–380 kV lines.

• Prepaid meters

  Prepayment system for electricity, with 47,000 meters installed by end 2020 and 230,000 by end October 2021.

• MyEasyLight online agency

  Online platform for subscription, account management, bill payment and tracking.

• Investigation into a case of harassment

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1. 1Eneo Cameroon S.A.: The energy of Cameroon - MyEasyLight, your e-agencyeneocameroon.cm
2. 2Eneo Cameroon S.A.: The energy of Cameroon - MyEasyLight, your e-agency Our historyeneocameroon.cm
3. 3Eneo Cameroon S.A.: The energy of Cameroon - MyEasyLight, your e-agency About Eneoeneocameroon.cm
4. 4Eneo Cameroon S.A.: The energy of Cameroon - MyEasyLight, your e-agency Know more about MyEasyLighteneocameroon.cm
5. 5Enéo Cameroon - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Société camerounaise d’électricité - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org