The second Korea-Cameroon energy cooperation forum held in Yaounde last Friday.The government of Cameroon has expressed its wish to see South Korea step in with funding as well as expertise to boost its energy production both for industrial and domestic use. Water Resources and Energy Minister, Basile Atangana Kouna, made the appeal last Friday June 29 while presiding at the opening ceremony of the second edition of Korea-Cameroon Energy Cooperation Forum at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel.

The forum, like the first which held on December 8, 2011, sought to highlight the country's energy potentials and needs to Korean investors who comprised stakeholders from giant energy-related companies. The Minister said Cameroon's energy sector is endowed with abundant resources. "The discovery of substantial gas reserves gives us hope for a promising future in the use of liquefied natural gas or the processing of this gas into electricity. Intensive research in the domain of hydrocarbons reveals interesting possibilities. We also have great potentials in renewable energy. We believe that fruitful cooperation between Cameroon and Korea can contribute to the development of this sector as a response to the policy of greater accomplishments advocated by our Head of State, Paul Biya," Dr Atangana Kouna said. "From this perspective, Cameroon will not only need financing, but proven expertise as well. We are convinced that our cooperation will provide us with the two elements, since Korea has proven its worth in these domains," he continued.

Unlike the first edition of the forum that only explored investment opportunities in Cameroon's energy sector, the second permitted participants from both the public and private sectors in the two countries to discuss business ventures they could engage in to curb the energy shortfall currently experienced by Cameroon. Reason why there were paper presentations and discussions on topics like, "Financing electricity sector," Legal framework of the electricity sector, gas and petroleum products," "Bilateral cooperation in energy industry," "Introduction of Hyundai's Diesel Power Plant" as well as "Suggestions for the development of the Steel industry in Cameroon."