Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) has started supplying fuel to Cameroon, Nigeria’s eastern neighbor. The country’s 45-year-old refinery, Société Nationale de Raffinage (SONARA), has been inactive since May 2019 due to a major fire. This move aims to alleviate Cameroon’s petroleum product shortage, exacerbated by the US-Israel-Iran conflict, and follows an agreement signed between SONARA, Dangote Group, and MRS Oil & Gas Company.
The agreement seeks to address Cameroon’s fuel crisis, which has been intensified by global disruptions. SONARA’s board initially visited Dangote’s refinery in Lagos in January 2023 to seek technical and financial assistance for reviving the aging facility. The deal, signed on October 22 in Lagos, is designed to provide Cameroon with a stable fuel supply amid rising costs due to Middle East conflicts.
Located in Limbe, SONARA has been entirely dependent on imported refined fuels since the fire. Its revival is part of the CFA 291.9 billion (approximately $458.56 million) “Parras 24” recovery strategy. However, this plan hinges on restructuring SONARA’s substantial CFA 479 billion ($818.13 million) debt, which remains a critical challenge.
Cameroon, with over 27 million people, has been severely impacted by its lack of local refining capacity. In 2025, the country spent CFA 891.1 billion ($1.53 billion) on hydrocarbon imports, a decrease from CFA 1.15 trillion in 2022. Notably, in the first quarter of 2026, Cameroon spent CFA 274.3 billion ($468.50 million) on hydrocarbon imports, highlighting its ongoing reliance on external supplies.
To stabilize fuel prices, the government allocated CFA 310 billion ($529.47 million) for energy subsidies in 2026, including CFA 57 billion ($97.35 million) in September 2026 alone. These subsidies aim to cushion the impact of rising global oil prices on consumers.
The Dangote Group has strengthened its presence in Cameroon by establishing a new oil and gas subsidiary, expanding beyond fuel storage and distribution. The partnership with SONARA and MRS Oil was formalized in Lagos, though a planned launch ceremony was postponed due to scheduling conflicts involving Aliko Dangote.
Cameroon’s fuel import costs have fluctuated, with CFA 333.7 billion ($568.9 billion) spent in the first half of 2025, a 26.3% decrease from the same period in 2024. This reduction reflects efforts to manage costs amid global market volatility.
