What sustainable energy strategies for developing countries: the case of the electricity sector in Cameroon.

Summary The sustainable development of the energy sector in developing countries poses a constantly renewed challenge for the applied economy. Access to electricity and, more generally, to reliable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly energy services and resources, is necessary to improve the living conditions of populations and to develop a competitive economic fabric. The work undertaken during this thesis consists of describing and analyzing the Cameroonian energy system with respect to current energy policies. Is it possible to satisfy the energy demand resulting from population growth and the necessary economic development, under environmental constraints? According to the econometric study, it is GDP growth that "causes" electricity consumption, as the country's economy is largely supported by agriculture, oil and the informal sector. This thesis shows that although Cameroon does not have many environmental constraints, it will have to continue to develop hydropower, because of its potential and environmental virtues, in order to provide the energy needed by households and businesses. The country will also need to continue to develop its oil and gas resources, and diversify its energy supply to make the most of its renewable energy resources. To do this, the current regulatory and institutional framework needs to be redesigned to make it more attractive to investment. These are the conditions for sustainable energy development in Cameroon.