Nachtigal Hydro Power Company

What Nachtigal Hydro Power Company does

Nachtigal Hydro Power Company SA (NHPC) is a Cameroonian société anonyme headquartered in Yaoundé, incorporated on July 7, 2016 to develop, finance, construct, and operate the 420 MW Nachtigal run-of-river hydroelectric facility on the Sanaga River. The plant comprises 7 Francis turbine groups of 60 MW each operating at a 50m head with a 980 m³/s flow rate, with key technical assets including a dam, 3.3 km headrace canal, powerhouse at dam toe, tailrace channel, transformers (10.3 kV to 225 kV), and a 225 kV switchyard. Expected annual production exceeds 2,900 GWh, equivalent to approximately 30% of Cameroon's total electricity supply, making NHPC the single largest electricity producer in the country. The project spans 6 arrondissements across 5 departments (Haute Sanaga, Mbam et Kim, Lékié, Mefou Afamba, Mfoundi) covering roughly 250,000 inhabitants.

NHPC operates under an exclusive 35-year concession granted by the State of Cameroon on April 20, 2017, valid through 2060. Revenue is generated through a single take-or-pay-style Power Purchase Agreement with ENEO Cameroon, the national electricity distributor, which purchases all generated power for downstream distribution. High-voltage transmission is handled by SONATREL through the 225 kV national grid, with NHPC's electricity evacuated via dedicated transmission lines to the Nyom 2 substation. A secondary revenue stream from artisanal fishing rights in the reservoir was formally launched in March 2025.

The project was financed via a €1.2 billion structure with 24% equity from shareholders EDF (40%), IFC (20%), State of Cameroon (15%), STOA (15%), and Africa50 (10%), and 76% debt arranged across 11 international development finance institutions and 4 local commercial banks. Financial close occurred December 24, 2018, construction began February 1, 2019, the first turbine was commissioned June 14, 2024, and full commercial operation commenced May 2025. The company employs 11–50 staff and has executive leadership provided by EDF, with operating partnerships including EDF as industrial lead, ATB for operator training, and community development programs under the PADEL framework covering local economic development across the project area.

Name

Nachtigal Hydro Power Company

Legal name

Nachtigal Hydro Power Company SA

Website

https://nhpc.cm

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC) operates the 420 MW Nachtigal run-of-river hydroelectric plant on Cameroon's Sanaga River under a 35-year state concession, selling baseload power exclusively to state utility ENEO under a PPA and supplying 30% of Cameroon's electricity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydroelectric Power Generation

NAICS

Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUACAEAB

Reservoir/Impoundment Hydroelectric Generation

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Electric Power Generation/Hydroelectric Power Generation (Large & Small Hydro)

SECONDARYEUAMADAE

Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (O&M, Spares, Performance)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Hydropower (Run-of-River, Reservoir, Small Hydro)

SECONDARYEUACAEAG

Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Refurbishment (R&M/Life Extension)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Electric Power Generation/Hydroelectric Power Generation (Large & Small Hydro)

SECONDARYEUAMADAC

Hydropower Turbines & Electro-Mechanical Equipment (Turbines, Generators, Governors)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Hydropower (Run-of-River, Reservoir, Small Hydro)

Keywords

• Hydroelectric power generation
• Renewable energy infrastructure
• Power purchase agreements
• Concession-based utilities
• Transmission infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Yaoundé

HQ country

Cameroon

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales to ENEO: NHPC generates revenue primarily through the sale of electricity to ENEO, Cameroon's national electricity distributor, under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The facility produces 420 MW contributing 30% of Cameroon's electricity needs. Expected annual production exceeds 2,900 GWh.
2. Fishing Rights in Reservoir: Artisanal fishing activities in the Nachtigal reservoir officially launched in March 2025, generating supplementary revenue from fishing rights and licenses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC) operates the 420 MW Nachtigal run-of-river hydroelectric facility on the Sanaga River in Cameroon, comprising 7 Francis turbine groups of 60 MW each. The facility generates approximately 2,900 GWh annually, contributing 30% of Cameroon's electricity, and sells all output to ENEO Cameroon under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement operating under a 35-year government concession.

Product overview

Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC) operates a single integrated hydroelectric power generation and transmission system. The core product is the 420 MW Nachtigal Hydroelectric Facility on the Sanaga River, comprising 7 Francis turbines, a water reservoir, and transmission infrastructure. This facility is complemented by environmental and social management services and local economic development programs under the PADEL initiative. The company operates under a 35-year concession granted by the State of Cameroon, producing approximately 30% of the nation's electricity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nachtigal Hydroelectric Facility A 420 MW run-of-river hydroelectric power plant on the Sanaga River, consisting of 7 Francis turbine groups of 60 MW each, producing approximately 2,900 GWh annually and supplying 30% of Cameroon's electricity needs under a long-term PPA with ENEO.
• Power Transmission Services Construction and operation of high-voltage transmission lines (225 kV) connecting the power plant to the national grid at the Nyom 2 substation, including local distribution infrastructure.
• Hydraulic Safety and Operations Services Operation and maintenance of the hydroelectric facility ensuring hydraulic safety standards, including regular maintenance of the 7 generating units and switching yard.
• Local Economic Development Program (PADEL) Plan d'Actions de Développement Economique Local (PADEL) program supporting local infrastructure development in water, electricity, education, and agriculture across 6 arrondissements covering approximately 250,000 residents.
• Environmental and Social Management Services Comprehensive environmental and social impact management including biodiversity conservation, community development, resettlement support, and compensation programs for affected populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 420 MW installed capacity (7 × 60 MW Francis turbines)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ENEO CamerooncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerENEO is the sole distributor of electricity produced by Nachtigal. Under the PPA, ENEO purchases all power generated for distribution to end consumers nationwide. This is a critical commercial relationship for revenue generation.
• SONATRELcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSONATREL operates Cameroon's national high-voltage transmission network. NHPC's electricity is transmitted through SONATREL's 225 kV grid from the Nachtigal facility to distribution points across the country.
• COTCO (Cameroon Oil Transportation Company)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHPC and COTCO collaboration described as exemplary and serving the public interest. Nature of collaboration focuses on collective benefit initiatives in the project area.
• ATBsupportingTechnology or IntegrationATB provides technical expertise for strengthening NHPC's operator team competencies and skills in collaboration with international best practices.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Globeleq: Pan-African power producer and IPP platform with a portfolio that includes hydropower assets across multiple African countries — comparable as a privately-held African power IPP with DFI backers and long-term PPAs with national utilities.
• Cahora Bassa (HCB - Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa): Operates the 2,075 MW Cahora Bassa dam on the Zambezi River in Mozambique, one of Africa's largest hydropower assets — comparable as a major African hydroelectric operator with similar generation, transmission, and single-region concentration profile.
• Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project: 80 MW run-of-river hydropower facility on the Kagera River between Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi, financed by the World Bank, AfDB, and bilateral DFIs — comparable as a multilateral DFI-financed African run-of-river hydro with cross-border offtake.
• Kariba Dam Power Station (ZRA): 1,050 MW hydroelectric facility on the Zambezi River shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe, operated under a binational agreement — comparable as a large African run-of-river / reservoir hydropower asset serving national grids via long-term arrangements.
• SN Power: Hydropower development and operating company focused on emerging markets including Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with run-of-river projects — comparable as a hydro-focused developer/operator in developing markets with similar concession-based business model.
• Bujagali Energy Limited: Operates the 250 MW Bujagali run-of-river hydropower plant on the Victoria Nile in Uganda under a similar Independent Power Producer structure with a long-term PPA to the national grid — the closest comparable African run-of-river IPP by business model, financing architecture, and offtake structure.

Broad incumbents

• EDF Renewables: Renewable energy arm of EDF — NHPC's 40% controlling shareholder and the world's largest hydropower operator — comparable as a global incumbent with portfolio approach including run-of-river hydro in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• Innergex Renewable Energy: Pure-play renewable energy producer with a meaningful run-of-river hydropower portfolio across Canada, the US, France, and Chile — comparable as a publicly-listed run-of-river hydro specialist with long-term PPA revenue model.
• Engie: Global energy major with renewable generation assets across Africa, including thermal and hydropower IPPs — comparable as a broad incumbent investor and operator in African power generation with long-term concession experience.

Regional players

• ENEO Cameroon: Cameroon's national electricity distributor and NHPC's sole offtaker under the PPA — relevant as the demand-side counterparty that determines NHPC's revenue and as the regional player responsible for end-consumer distribution of Nachtigal's output.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NHPC_Officiel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxVHO676BH8tjpqwcmjSTNQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/NachtigalHydroPowerCompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nachtigal-hydro-power-company
• TikToktiktok.com/@nhpc_officiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nachtigal Hydro Power Company