The solar-powered borehole has transformed the daily lives of nearly 3,000 villagers.

In Nkolondom, in the Okola subdivision of the Centre region, drinking water now flows from the taps. On 3 March 2026, the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO) officially handed over to the municipality of Okola a solar-powered borehole built for the benefit of the local population.

The ceremony was presided over by the subdivisional officer of Okola, Aboubakar Moussa, and brought together administrative authorities, traditional leaders, and residents, all of whom had come to celebrate this infrastructure that brings hope. André Belle Gorsiri, Manager of COTCO’s Corporate Social Responsibility Department, representing General Manager, Jean-Paul Simo Njonou, carried out the symbolic handover of the keys to the facility to the Mayor of Okola, Vincent de Paul Noa.

For years, the residents of Nkolondom had to travel long distances to fetch water. “We had to walk to rivers and swamps to collect water. It was a difficult situation for all generations”, says Joseph Bessala Mvogo, a villager who promises to “look after and take care of this facility”.

Built at a cost of 20.5 million CFA francs, the borehole is equipped with a smart solar pumping system, a 15,000-litre water tower, and six public taps. A management committee has also been set up to ensure the maintenance and long-term sustainability of the facility.

“Our aim is to provide the local population with sustainable access to clean water”, emphasised André Belle Gorsiri. The mayor of Okola praised “a collaboration based on listening to the real needs of the people”, while the subdivisional officer was delighted to see “water flowing from the wall”.

Through this initiative, COTCO reaffirms its commitment to improving the living conditions of communities living alongside the Chad-Cameroon pipeline.