2, April 2017
French Cameroun: Kribi CPDM Port still not operational 1
The political port created by the Biya Francophone government in Kribi at the expense of that in Limbe has still not gone operational. Cameroon Concord News understands the infrastructure of the Kribi port is technically ready to be exploited for months now but delays exist at the level of the award of contracts for the management of the multipurpose terminals and containers.
Recognized by the State of Cameroon, the Dutch company Smit Lamnaco, the contractor for the towing and landing contract, signed its agreement since the 2nd of February 2015. The consortia Necotrans-KPMO (polyvalent terminal) and Bolloré-CMA CGM-CHEC (Container terminal), both were recruited since August 2015 and continue to wait for the government’s anointing to enter service on their respective terminals.
However, heavy equipment that were procured by the CPDM government for the Autonomous Port of Kribi continue to rust. The two tugs acquired and received by the State of Cameroon since 2014 will be sent for technical revision in the coming days, as they have long been stagnant at the port.
Built by the Chinese company CHEC, thanks to financing from Eximbank China, the deep water port of Kribi has 650 m of platforms, of which 350 m for the container terminal and 265,5 m for the multipurpose terminal. The two terminals have respective capacity of 300,000 Equivalent Unit (TEU) per year and 1.2 million tonnes per year.
The second phase of construction of this white elephant scheme includes the extension of the 700 m container terminal to 1050 m, as well as the construction of mineral and hydrocarbon terminals. With a 15.5 m channel, this port infrastructure, which will accommodate ships with a draft of 16m, is presented by experts as the best on the West African coast.
By Sama Ernest
8, April 2017
Southern Cameroons Crisis: Internet shutdown costs Cameroon 2 billion FCFA 0
French NGO Internet Without Borders has reported that in 60 days, the Internet cut in Southern Cameroons has cost 2.69 million euros or nearly 2 billion FCFA to the Cameroonian economy. The international body also did observe that Southern Cameroons internet shutdown is one of the longest recorded in Africa. Mobile operators, including Orange and MTN were ordered by the Francophone regime to suspend Internet services in the English part of the country.
The situation has been more detrimental for Southern Cameroons entrepreneurs and has completely destroyed the development of a significant number of digital start-ups. Young businessmen such as Churchill Mambe, Njorku, based in Buea, drives everyday to Bonako-a small village in French Cameroon to be able to have access to internet.
Cameroon Concord News understands the Internet cuts have also had a negative and direct influence on national and regional economies, thus delaying progress towards the achievement of development objectives. Financial experts say the cuts present significant risks to investors in the provision of fixed and mobile network infrastructure and that some investors have opted to leave Cameroon. The Minister of Telecommunications, Minette Limbo Li Likeng has maintained a kind of deliberate silence on this recent revelation.
By Fru James