Berkeley Energy Cameroon Corporation (BEC), a subsidiary of the Africa Renewable Energy Fund II (AREF II), which reached a final close of €180 million in 2023, is currently developing the Mungo Falls scheme that is envisaged as a run-of-river project with an installed capacity of 95 MW (subject to confirmation of hydrological resources).
The project, which is proposed to be developed at a site near Ebonji village, 80 km to the north of Douala, is planned with a weir on the Mungo river, intake structure, waterway, powerhouse, access roads and transmission line facilities. The pre-feasibility study report was prepared based on previous studies completed by BEC’s technical adviser, PAC, and with the support of BEC’s internal technical team, and was validated by the Government.
The prefeasibility studies include a detailed topographic Lidar study covering the entire project area, a preliminary hydrology study covering the catchment area, a satellite-based geology study, an initial layout design study, and an initial environmental screening. The initial hydrology study is based on flows from a nearby hydrometric station. The project site is now equipped with a gauging station consisting of four stage boards where water levels have been recorded for a period of over two years. BEC has recently initiated a flow measurement campaign via an Acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) at the site, and the campaign will last for about seven months.
BEC wants to present a comprehensive technical solution to the Government and is therefore looking to assess this project in greater detail. The scope will include the collection of all historical discharge/level data, rainfall gauge data and satellite rainfall data, collection of all data from previous hydrology studies, discharge measurement, analysis of the collected data (and gap analysis), comparison of rainfall based on satellite, catchment area estimation and mapping, development of an adequate model providing rainfall data series, hydrology discharge data series, flood data estimates/discharges, hydrograph, flow duration curve, probability of exceedance, design flow, environmental flow, mean flow and any other parameter deemed necessary.
The services will be developed in phases with the target of engaging the Government with an interim report based on preliminary findings in a first phase, and confirming the initial findings at the end of the flow measurement campaign period in a second phase. BE, which currently manages the AREF and which is now fully invested, is currently developing over 500 MW across over 10 hydropower projects in Cameroon, Angola, Zambia, Malawi and Madagascar.
Expressions of Interest are requested from consultants or joint venture firms that have proven experience in similar assignments for hydropower projects. The tender is intended to be run as a restricted tender as per AREF II PSF Procedures Manual, in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Procurement Policy dated October 2015, available at: www.afdb.org
At the end of the submission period, BEC will shortlist the bidders and circulate the detailed terms of reference, RfP and Scope of the Services.
For further information, contact: Alessandro Davitti, Technical Manager – Hydro; Email: Alessandro.Davitti@Berkeley-Energy.com; with a copy to: Axel–Franck Gnassounou, Country Manager, Cameroon; Email: Axel.Gnassounou@Berkeley-Energy.com
