La contribution de l’énergie solaire au développement local dans la commune de Ngwei (département de la Sanaga –Maritime).

Abstract

Local development, Solar energy, Rural electrification. This work analyzes the contribution of solar energy to local development in the municipality of Ngwei (department of Sanaga-Maritime). The choice of our research theme is linked to the issue of electrification in rural Cameroon, which today appears to be an issue for Cameroon. Indeed, energy is an essential factor in the socio-economic development of a country. Because it is necessary for all human activity and essential to the satisfaction of daily needs. According to Light4 all Cameroon, 76.6% of households living in isolated villages are not connected to the electricity grid. However, according to the law on electrification in Cameroon, access to modern energy dedicated to needs such as lighting, constitutes a social, economic and environmental priority and a right for rural populations. According to the IEA (2016), global energy consumption has increased sharply in recent years. It will increase from 549 billion MBtu in 2012 to 629 billion MBtu in 2020 and to 815 billion MBtu in 2040. This increase in consumption is partly explained by population growth and economic growth as well as the increase in the level of life on the planet. Thus, energy has today become a major problem on a global scale to which States must provide sustainable solutions. This study raises the problem of the contribution of solar energy to the well-being of local populations in the district of Ngwei. In addition, this work proposes to understand, on the one hand, to what extent solar energies are an asset for local development in the administrative district of Ngwei, and on the other hand, to explain the issues and logics of actors around the solar energy project in the commune of Ngwei. Our main question is to know how does solar energy contribute to improving the quality of life of the populations of the district of Ngwei ? As a main hypothesis, we will say that the solar energy electrification project in the administrative district of Ngwei participates in the creation of jobs, develops trade, increases the production of palm oil. To do this, three theoretical models were used. These are the social conflict theory, the dynamist and critical sociology theory and finally the weak sustainability theory. In addition, to collect information, we used direct observation, semi-directive interview and questionnaire as data collection tools. At the end of our work, it emerged that solar energy contributes to improving the quality of life of the beneficiaries. It not only increases the production of palm oil, but also brings the local populations out of darkness and makes small businesses (bar-restaurant), leisure and relaxation areas flourish. In addition, the solar energy electrification project is a pillar for achieving the objectives of sustainable development in the locality.