Cameroon seeks FCFA 250 billion to rehabilitate SONARA

Cameroon seeks FCFA 250 billion to rehabilitate the National Refining Company (SONARA) following a major fire that crippled the Limbe-based facility, government officials have announced.

The announcement came on Monday, June 29, 2026, as Prof. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Acting Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, opened a Market Consultation for SONARA’s rehabilitation at the Hilton Hotel, Yaoundé.

The session, held at the invitation of the Minister of Finance, is part of efforts to secure a private partner under a Design-Build-Finance-Maintain, DBFM, Public-Private Partnership model.

2019 fire and current status

SONARA, Cameroon’s only refinery, was ravaged by fire on May 31, 2019, in Limbe, Southwest Region. The blaze completely destroyed four of 13 main production units, a crude oil storage tank, and partially damaged other facilities.

Market test for investors

The consultation convened industrial operators, international oil companies, EPC firms, financial institutions, investment banks, lenders, and integrated consortia. The objective was to gauge market interest, assess the project’s bankability, and collect stakeholder input on risk-sharing, remuneration, and project structuring.

Present at the event were the Minister of Water and Energy, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, the Director General of SONARA, the Board Chair, and the Secretary General.

Modernization context

Officials recalled that SONARA has been undergoing modernization and expansion works valued at over 500 billion FCFA. Current capacity stands at 2.1 million tonnes of crude per year, with a target of 3.5 million tonnes per year on completion. The initial completion date was set for 2021.

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Slide view of SONARA