Cameroon's Lom Pangar Dam Project: Senior government official calls for evacuation of risk zone

The Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Emmanuel Bonde has held a press conference to update the population on the latest development concerning the Lom Pangar Dam project. The Minister was targeting specifically mining corporations and inhabitants around the Lom Pangar Dam project site which has been identified as a risk zone.

As the partial filling of the Lom Pangar Hydroelectric Dam begins on Tuesday 15th September 2015, the Minister cautions all entities and individuals still operating within the area to leave before the exercise begins. During the meeting with pressmen, the Minister mentioned that the filling process would increase water levels to about three billion m2. He further explained that due to the fear of an overflow and subsequent submergence of the neighbouring environment, officials of the Electricity Development Company (EDC) have called on occupants of the area to evacuate. 

The mining operators however are resilient, arguing that they have full authorisation to operate in the area which is richly endowed with gold. The Minister’s warning includes inhabitants of Betare Oya, Belabo and Ngoura who have also been advised to move to a new site to avoid the risk of being submerged by the waters during the filling exercise.