The agreement between energy developer Joule Africa and Cameroon was signed at the maiden UK-Cameroon Trade and Investment Forum in London .

It will see Joule Africa partner with local company Bethel Industrievertretung (BIIL) and the government of Cameroon to set up the facilities in strategic parts of the country, if possible the northern part where solar irradiance are higher.

The project is expected to gulp around $200 million in capital investment and will increase energy supply by 15 percent as well as strengthen the country’s commitment to the use of renewable energy.

The facilities will be developed in phases, with full operation predicted to commence by 2017 . The first commissioning however, is scheduled for 2015.

“The next few months will be devoted to site selection, after which we will conduct detailed feasibility studies, with the phased construction process due to begin during the first half of 2015,” Joule Africa President, Mark Green explained.

Joule Africa is currently developing a 607MW Kpep hydroelectric project in the West African nation. The project is said to cost almost $1 billion.