Within the framework of the Environment and Energy Programme for sub-Saharan Africa, UNIDO ITPO Italy organized a study tour in Piedmont from 3^rd to 4^th April for Ms. Nathalie Laure Beyala Ekoumou, delegate from the Investment Promotion Agency of the Government of Cameroon. The main focus of the mission was to show the potential of the Italian business community in hydropower, biogas and biomass, the main sectors in the energy strategies of the African Country: through the visit to cutting-edge facilities, the delegate had the possibility to know the best technologies available in these sectors.

The study tour started with two visits to biogas plants: one landfill with a technology to transform in energy the waste thought the fermentation of the organic component and another one that use the waste from cattle breeding. Both technologies are based in process of decay of organic material due to some bacteria, which produces carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane, the most important component.

The day after was dedicated to the hydropower energy, with the visits to 4 facilities between Val Pellice and Val Susa. In particular Ms. Ekoumou experienced some plants between 1500 and 2000 Kw, that can ensure electricity to 3000 families, and small hydroelectric plants from 60 to 170 Kw, recently refurbished by a local company. The visit was accompanied by the planners of “Ambiente & Paesaggio”, which were very interested in analyzing the great opportunities in hydropower offered in Cameroon, the second Sub-Saharan African country for hydroelectric potential.