Empower New Energy and Neo Industry SA are proud to announce the construction start of a solar and battery project at Neo Industry S.A cocoa processing in Kekem, Cameroon. The project, with Éclipse Énergies Renouvelables as development and execution partner, marks Empower New Energy’s first investment in Cameroon. The investment supports the energy transition of one of the country’s leading agro-industrial companies.
The investment is made to install a roof-mounted 1.8 MWp Solar PV plant and a 2,5 MWh Battery storage system at the premises or Neo Industry SA. The investment will significantly reduce Neo’s reliance on grid and diesel generation, promote self-consumption of renewable energy, lower energy and operational energy costs, ensure energy security and reduce the company’s CO₂ emissions.
The contract is a 25-year Power Support Agreement, under which Empower New Energy is responsible for financing, construction, operations, and supply of electricity.
‘We are proud to partner with the pioneering Cameroonian company Neo Industry to solarize their operations. This project will also showcase the benefits of going solar in a country where many companies suffer from unreliable and costly energy supply’, says Terje Osmundsen, CEO of Empower New Energy.
  
Strategic location with economic potential
Key growth drivers include strategic infrastructure projects, rising agricultural exports, and a growing digital sector. With a strategic location in Central Africa, next to the Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon is seen as a country with substantial economic potential with a growing customer market attractive for investments.
‘As Neo Industry SA continues to strengthen its industrial platform, our commitment to quality, process control and continuous improvement remains central to our development. The partnership with Empower New Energy and Eclipse Energies Renouvelables supports our ambition to build a competitive and standards-driven industrial operations, aligned with the level of excellence we aim to deliver from Cameroon to international markets. We hope many businesses in the country will go solar’, says Chantal Bounkeu, CEO of Neo Industry SA.
Neo Industry S.A was founded in 2019 and is today one of the most important cameroonian cocoa processors in the country, playing a strategic role in local value addition, industrial employment, and transformation of the country’s cocoa economy. Neo Industry S.A works with a network of 16.000 small suppliers, 20 cooperatives and 5 unions.Â
Initially capable of processing 32,000 tonnes of cocoa beans per year, Neo Industry is undergoing expansion to increase capacity to 80,000 tonnes annually, a move expected to significantly reduce Cameroon’s dependence on raw cocoa exports.
Contributes to Cameroon’s Climate Goals
Like many countries on the African continent, Cameroon faces severe energy challenges. Low rainfall affecting, rising demand (10% annually) leads to frequent power outages in the country.
This negatively affects operational efficiency and economic activity. Still, electrification rates are relatively high in Cameroon compared to the Central African region: 54% of the population has access to electricity. To solve the country’s energy challenges, the government has announced that 4GW of renewable energy projects will be developed by 2035.
The projects include a mix of solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and battery solutions. Empower New Energy’s investment in Neo Industry SA in cooperation with EPC Partner Eclipse ER will improve the energy access and boost the economy in Cameroon. The international investment further contributes to reach Cameroon’s climate goals from the Paris Agreement, with the ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030.
‘We are delighted to collaborate with Empower New Energy and Neo Industry SA on this important project. Initiated and developed by Eclipse ER with the trust of Neo Industry, itmarks a significant step forward for solar energy in Cameroon. We will design, execute and maintain the installation over the next 25 years.’, says Ismael Touani, CEO of Eclipse ER.
The project is estimated to provide 2 270.6 MWh of clean electricity annually to the off-taker and cut approximately 1505 tonnes of COâ‚‚Â emissions per year. Over 120 jobs will be created directly or indirectly from the partnership with Empower New Energy.Â
Through this project in Cameroon, Empower New Energy will achieve a measurable impact in addressing SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
About Empower New Energy:Â Empower New Energy is a Norwegian renewable energy impact
investor. The company finances, builds, and owns solar power plants for commercial, industrial and agricultural customers across the African continent. The company’s model is based on equity investment, helping fast-track clean energy projects while supporting local job creation, climate action, and sustainable growth with clean, reliable and low-cost energy.
Website:Â https://www.empowernewenergy.com/
About Neo Industry: Neo Industry S.A. is a leading Cameroonian agro-industrial company focused on the local processing of cocoa beans. The company was founded in 2019 by Mr Emmanuel Neossi, Chairman and owner. Neo Industry S.A plays a strategic role in adding value to Cameroon’s cocoa sector by transforming raw beans into semifinished cocoa products rather than exporting them unprocessed. As one of the most important cocoa processors in the country, Neo Industry contributes significantly to industrialization and economic development.
Website:Â https://neoindustrysa.com/
