Electricity, Water Resources: Union Briefs Members On Talks With Government, Stakeholders

Plagued in recent years by seemingly intractable problems with Energy of Cameroon, Eneo, the union of water resources and electricity subcontractors of Cameroon (the “Association des entreprises d’eau et d’électricité du Cameroun” ASEELEC) on Saturday January 21, 2023 organized an emergency general assembly meeting in Yaounde. 

Change Of Appellation 
The general assembly also approved the change of name from “Association des entreprises d’eau et d’électricité du Cameroun” ASEELEC to “Organisation interprofessionnelle des entreprises d’électricité et d’eau du Cameroun,” ORSEELEC. In conformity with the December 16, 2021 Act of Parliament regulating subcontracting. ThE vote was preceded by the adoption of new byelaws and internal rules and regulations for the new trade union.  

Government Wades In 
“Initially, we tried to sort out the problems with Energy of Cameroon, but failed. We then turned to the Minister of Water Resources and Energy. Meetings between the Ministry, ASEELEC and Eneo were then held. Because ASEELEC’s members are spread all over the country, we thought it wise to bring them together to brief them on how far the discussions have gone. And what remains to be done,” explained Tumetoh Emmanuel, ASEELEC executive member. 

Various Grievances 
According to him, the problems with Eneo include delays in payment, low prices for work undertaken, non-respect of contractual agreements, reduction in the number of subcontracting firms…     “It was important that our members met together for three main reasons. First, the extraordinary general assembly meeting was informed by the fact that Parliament in 2021 passed a bill on subcontracting. We met to agree on new rules to conform with Bill Number 021/023 of 16 December 2021,” explained ASEELEC Chair, Lapnet Simon. 

Debriefing Members 
“We also discussed our union’s problems with Energy of Cameroon. Our executive has held a number of meetings with Eneo, the Minister of Water Resources and Energy and the electricity regulator, ARSEL. The extraordinary general assembly afforded us the opportunity to present and discuss the outcome of these talks,” Lapnet continued. 

New Conformity ...