A four-day seminar to maximise energy potentials in CEMAC countries is ongoing since 4th November 2014 in Yaounde.

The seminar which has in attendance participants from ten CEMAC countries, is under the patronage of the Minister of Water Resources and Energy was aimed at mapping out strategies in maximising hydro electrical potentials for development.

The Central African Power Pool (CAPP) and some technical experts from the European Union drafted the 2014/2030 strategy.

The priority integrating project and the trans-border interconnection projects are the categories of documents to be unveiled during the seminar.

The Permanent Secretary for CAPP Jean Chrysostome Mekondongo disclosed that the document has been put in place to ensure a medium and long term community energy development strategy.

The first segment runs from 2014-19 and consists of putting in place a medium and long-term community energy development strategy and to update certain fundamental documents for energy.

The second phase which runs from 2020-2030 is made up of the inter-state connection of electricity and trans-border electrification.

The CAPP representative also expressed the need for the state to cooperate with the project in order to meet the growing energy needs of the population.

It was also revealed that Central Africa has one of the best hydrocarbon and hydroelectricity potentials but lacks ways of maximising them.

The seminar is timely as experts will have to map out strategies to fine-tune solutions in exploiting the energy potentials.

The main challenge however is seeking out ways of funding the project.

At the close of the seminar, Ministers of Energy in CEMAC states will be expected to approve the document which will be handed to all Heads of States for endorsement.