HVCRC® conductors selected by Sonatrel for the construction of a 225 kV transmission line in Cameroun

SONATREL has chosen Epsilon Cable’s HVCRC® conductor technology for a new 225 kV transmission line in Cameroon, a project supported by World Bank funding.

This interconnection initiative, known as PIRECT (Projet d’Interconnexion des Réseaux Electriques du Cameroun et du Tchad), aims to link Cameroon’s southern (RIS) and northern (RIN) electrical grids. A key objective is to deliver hydropower from the Nachtigal station (420 MW) to the northern region of Cameroon and further into Chad.

According to the African Development Bank, the project will expand electricity access to approximately 8.9 million people, enabling hydropower to reach major cities in northern Cameroon such as Garoua, Maroua, Ngaoundéré, and Meiganga as well as roughly 500 rural communities and parts of Chad, where 88% of the population still lacks electricity.

To meet this significant demand, SONATREL selected composite core conductors over the conventional ACSR conductors. By replacing the ACSR steel core with a lightweight, durable carbon fiber composite, the transmission line can operate at double the maximum temperature.
Additionally, the lighter composite core permits more aluminum to be used without adding weight. Combined with the higher conductivity of annealed aluminum, this design reduces electrical resistance by 30%, ultimately lowering generation costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

For the initial PIRECT phase, SONATREL and IED Consult engineers concluded that composite core conductors would best serve the 515 km line stretching from Nachtigal to Wouro Soua. With over 6,000 km of conductors required, this is the largest project to date involving high voltage composite core conductors for new transmission line construction.
The main segment of the project will feature Epsilon Cable’s HVCRC® conductor technology, selected as the optimal solution for this extensive undertaking.

Fort this project Dervaux (Sicame Group) will supply the compression accessories to be used with HVCRC® conductors.