(Business in Cameroon) – On October 23, Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC), developer of the nearly complete 420 MW Nachtigal Dam in Cameroon’s Center region, signed a partnership with the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries (Minepia). This agreement aims to support local fishing communities near the dam, helping them sustain their livelihoods, manage fish resources responsibly, and preserve biodiversity, according to Minister Taïga.
NHPC describes the Nachtigal fishery as the first fishery built within a run-of-river dam in Central Africa. “Nachtigal operates as a run-of-river dam, unlike the Lom Pangar reservoir. Song Loulou, for instance, lacks a fishery. Establishing fisheries on run-of-river dams is more challenging due to the need for well-coordinated fishing schedules and plant operations,” explains Asser Yoke, a fisheries manager at NHPC.
Alongside the fishery, which is expected to produce 30 tons of fish annually, plans include a landing dock and training programs on fishing techniques tailored to the dam’s environment, as well as fish processing. NHPC notes that beyond the financial compensation already provided, the Nachtigal fishery aims to restore the livelihoods of fishermen and fish vendors impacted by the dam’s construction. Around 200 people in the dam’s vicinity are set to benefit from this initiative.
