In a groundbreaking initiative, Cameroon is taking decisive steps to develop comprehensive energy accounts that will reshape its policy-making landscape. The move, led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) through its Central Africa sub-regional office and the African Centre for Statistics, is being executed in close collaboration with the country’s National Institute of Statistics and the World Bank under the HISWACA project framework.
Douala is playing host to a pivotal five-day workshop from June 22 to 26, 2026, bringing together key government institutions, energy sector agencies, and technical and financial partners. The primary objective? To map out the technical, methodological, and institutional requirements needed to construct energy accounts aligned with the internationally recognized System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), a United Nations framework that bridges economic and environmental data.
Energy accounts are a cutting-edge statistical instrument linking energy flows—from extraction and production to transformation, consumption, and trade—with national economic activities and environmental impacts. This holistic approach provides policymakers with a clearer picture of how energy, the economy, and the environment intersect.
But what does this mean in practice? Energy accounting addresses critical policy questions: How much energy is produced domestically? Which sectors consume the most energy? How is energy transformed and utilized? What is its contribution to wealth creation? How do energy policies affect economic growth, employment, and greenhouse gas emissions? Beyond these, energy accounts serve as a compass for guiding investment decisions essential to the country’s energy transition.
The urgency of this initiative cannot be overstated. With Cameroon’s energy demand surging, energy security imperatives tightening, and climate change challenges intensifying, reliable, integrated statistics are no longer optional—they are indispensable for evidence-based policymaking and strategic investment planning.
This initiative is perfectly in sync with Cameroon’s Vision 2035 and the National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (SND30), both of which prioritize structural transformation, sustainable industrialization, and energy transition as cornerstones of national development.
The energy accounts will also play a crucial role in tracking progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those targeting affordable and clean energy, climate action, and sustainable resource management.
More than just a statistical exercise, energy accounting will empower Cameroon with a robust framework to evaluate the effectiveness of its energy policies, harmonize economic planning with natural resource management, and embed environmental considerations into public decision-making processes.
The Douala workshop marks a foundational milestone in the energy account compilation process. Participants will identify user needs, assess available data, pinpoint gaps, and craft a practical roadmap for future energy account compilation.
This initiative is part of the National Plan for Economic and Environmental Accounting (PNDEAE), adopted by the Cameroonian government in 2023 as a blueprint for implementing environmental and economic accounting systems. Within this plan, energy accounting stands out as a priority area for operational deployment.
Through this effort, the ECA is reinforcing Cameroon’s national statistical capacities while championing the advancement of environmental and economic accounting. The support includes adherence to international methodological standards, access to specialized expertise—including insights from the UK’s Office for National Statistics—and continuous technical assistance throughout the energy account compilation journey.
