A competition has just been launched to recruit 450 Cameroonians. They will need to be trained in solar photovoltaic energy techniques. The objective of this course is to equip a group of young people to find solutions to energy problems in their respective localities. The organisers hope that at the end of the training, the winners will be able to set up local photovoltaic solar energy production companies. The competition will take place on February 23, 2019 in 15 centres across the country. These include Yaoundé, Douala, Dschang, Bamenda, Ebolowa, Ngaoundéré, Bertoua, Garoua, Buéa, etc.
The competition is open to Cameroonians of both sexes, aged 15 to 35 years old and holding at least a first cycle certificate (BEPC in Cameroon), or other equivalent diploma. Candidates must provide the following documents:
– A completed registration form to be collected from the Multifunctional Youth Promotion Centres;
– An uncertified photocopy of the valid ID card;
– An uncertified copy of the required diploma or its equivalent.
The competition is organised by New Generation Technologie, in partnership with the Cameroonian Ministry of Youth and Civic Education (Minjec). The training will last two weeks at a cost of 240,000 CFA francs and will be partially financed by the Minjec. The other half will be paid by the trainee. However, arrangements will be made to follow learners for one year.
According to World Bank data, 57 per cent of the population in urban areas and 14 per cent in rural areas have access to electricity and Cameroon aims to increase production to 3,000 MW by 2020. This training project comes at a time when Cameroon is taking its first steps in the solar sector. In January 2019, for example, the Bangangté district hospital (West Cameroon) was equipped with 237 LED lamps and tubes and a solar power plant of more than 20 KW.
Luchelle Feukeng