Patrice Amba Salla “All the big projects are underway”

AM : What is going on with the major development projects announced for 2012?

PATRICE AMBA SALLA : Most of the schemes President Paul Biya announced are already underway and the rest are about to start. Work doesn’t begin when earth-moving equipment is on the site. There is a stage when companies make preparations, which is not necessarily visible. So all the projects have effectively begun. A non-exhaustive list of road programmes includes the mythical Ring Road serving Bamenda in the northeast. We’ve also started building the Douala-Ngaoundéré-N’Djamena road from the east (FoumbanBankim) and the Sangmélima road in the south, which will reach the border with Congo to serve the north of that brother country and connect the capitals Yaoundé and Brazzaville. Other big projects will be launched this year, including the second bridge over the Wouri in Douala, which is in the bidding stage. Companies have already been shortlisted.

One intensive project has been largely overlooked: the secondary road network. I’m referring to little-known roads connecting production areas to the main roads that serve outlet markets. They are not in the spotlight, yet they give economic activity its vibrancy. The government has tapped impressive resources in this area as well.

How are the other infrastructure projects progressing?

Again, I can tell you that things are moving forward rather well and at the desired pace. You must have heard that the World Bank recently released a decisive tranche of the financing to build the Lom Pangar hydroelectric dam, but the work was already underway. When the dam comes online it will help normalise power output. The contract to build the Memve’ele hydroelectric dam has just been signed, so work should start soon. The gas-fired power plant and deepwater port in Kribi are under construction.

How is the rehabilitation of Douala coming along?

Huge investments have been made in recent years, particularly in roads, water treatment, the development and opening up of new quarters, port facilities, water conveyance and other public amenities. These investments, often made with international cooperation, will grow because the government believes Douala must be both a pleasant place to live and an economically competitive city. That’s why it has begun updating the east and west entrances and building a second bridge over the Wouri. Cameroon’s economic capital, home to most of the country’s companies, is also a port city through which over 90% of imported or exported goods move. We must keep our streets and functional access roads upgraded for activity to reach its peak level.

What are the water and power normalisation and distribution goals?

The completion of many large-scale thermal and hydroelectric projects underway should normalise the power supply for households and industries. With regard to water, in addition to the projects underway, especially the plants near the capital, the government is considering plans to build a pumping station on the River Sanaga to supply Yaoundé. There is a light at the end of the tunnel because policies and actions have been vigorously implemented for projects in these sensitive areas to be completed as quickly as possible. Rest assured, the situation will look considerably brighter by the time thepresident is halfway through his term.

Foreign multinationals carry out many of the big programmes. Is the government taking any steps to ensure Cameroon’s smalland medium-sized businesses get a bigger piece of the pie?

Two things ensure their participation, which we hope will grow so that they become big companies: first, their recognised sub-contracting percentage, which is 30%; second, wehave a national preference policy for projects that are not too big. But that assumes the companies involved have a minimum amount of organisation, a desire to grow and know-how. The government is doing its utmost so that, through these opportunities, Cameroon’s smalland medium-sized companies can lend each other a helping hand, grow and gradually replace those that are operating now. I would hasten to add that the multinationals you mentioned are not, strictly speaking, foreign because they often own a share of local capital. They also put many Cameroonians to work.

The desire to keep the backbone of our road network in good working order led us to take that decision. It was an emergency and we couldn’t wait for the usual procurement procedures to run their course. That allows companies to quickly get down to work, filling potholes and examining roads before carrying out more extensive repairs, if necessary.

The aim is to give roads, which are our country’s lifeblood and connect the main cities to each other, a new lease of life. The repairs will reduce traffic accidents and boost competitiveness.

What can be done to maintain them and limit their deterioration afterwards?

Our ministerial department gave that question plenty of thought. As time went on we saw the drawbacks of privatising the road network and learned some lessons: the State should keep some activities in its portfolio. I also noted that companies that won maintenance contracts often fell down on the job, so we overhauled the system and required them to comply with specifications, especially since the State’s involvement will make it possible to open up new roads.

By François BAMBOU