Cameroon will launch a nationwide crackdown on electricity fraud from mid-March, aiming to curb losses estimated at more than 60 billion CFA francs (US$100 million) annually, the government said, as authorities seek to stabilise the power sector and improve service delivery.
Minister of Water and Energy Gaston Eloundou Essomba said in a statement dated February 5 that “lightning operations” targeting illegal electricity use would begin on March 15, following years of mounting commercial losses blamed on fraud, theft and unsafe connections.
The minister said the losses significantly undermine the state’s ability to invest in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, weakening the quality and reliability of public power supply in a country where outages remain frequent.
“Electricity fraud represents a major shortfall for the public electricity service and limits the capacity to finance network expansion and maintenance,” the statement said.
According to the ministry, the enforcement campaign will be carried out in collaboration with the public electricity service concessionaire and forms part of broader reforms following the renationalisation of ENEO, Cameroon’s main electricity distribution company. The government completed the takeover of ENEO in 2023, citing the need to regain control of a strategic sector and address persistent operational and financial challenges.
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Officials said the primary objective of the upcoming operations is to reduce commercial losses by identifying illegal connections, bypassed meters and other forms of power theft, while ensuring stricter enforcement of existing electricity regulations.
Beyond the financial toll, the ministry warned that electricity fraud poses serious safety risks. Illegal and poorly installed connections have been linked to multiple fire outbreaks and electrocution incidents across the country, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
“Fraudulent and non-compliant installations endanger not only users but also neighbouring households and public infrastructure,” the statement said.
The minister urged all electricity consumers to verify that their meters and installations comply with national standards and called on those using electricity illegally to regularise their situation immediately. Authorities framed the appeal as a matter of public safety as well as civic responsibility.
While the government did not detail the specific enforcement methods to be used, officials said inspections would be carried out nationwide once the operations begin. The March 15 start date effectively gives households and businesses about five weeks to bring their installations into compliance before inspections commence.
Authorities also did not specify the penalties that illegal users may face, though sanctions under Cameroonian law can include fines, service disconnections and potential criminal charges in severe cases.
Electricity fraud has long plagued Cameroon’s power sector, contributing to high technical and commercial losses that analysts estimate exceed 30 percent of total electricity produced. Such losses have constrained investment in new infrastructure despite rising demand driven by population growth, urbanisation and industrial activity.
Cameroon, which relies heavily on hydropower complemented by thermal plants, has expanded generation capacity in recent years with projects such as the Nachtigal dam, but distribution bottlenecks and revenue leakages continue to limit the impact on end users.
Energy sector analysts say tackling fraud is critical if the government is to improve financial sustainability and attract investment. “Without addressing commercial losses, even increased generation will not translate into better service or lower costs,” one Yaoundé-based energy consultant said.
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The crackdown comes as the government pursues a broader restructuring of the energy sector, aimed at improving governance, boosting domestic revenue collection and ensuring more reliable electricity supply to households and businesses.
For consumers, the announcement signals tighter oversight in a sector where informal connections have often been tolerated due to weak enforcement and the high cost of formal access. Authorities say that tolerance has come at a high price, both financially and in terms of public safety.
As the March deadline approaches, officials say the success of the operation will depend on cooperation from consumers and effective coordination between regulators, distributors and security services.
“This is about restoring order in the electricity sector,” the ministry said, warning that unsafe and illegal connections will no longer be ignored.
