The market for domestic gas in Cameroon is advancing with the launch of a competitive tender on September 1, 2026, for 60,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This official announcement, signed by Okie Johnson Ndoh, president of the ad hoc Commission for Petroleum Product Imports (CIPP), divides the total volume into two distinct lots: one for 35,000 tons and another for 25,000 tons. The initiative is designed to fulfill the country’s consumption requirements for the 2026 fiscal year.
Interested parties can obtain application documents from the headquarters of the Hydrocarbons Price Stabilization Fund (CSPH), located at the Warda roundabout in Yaoundé. The opening and adjudication of bids are scheduled for September 8 at noon, taking place at the same venue. As of now, details regarding the projected market value, the origin of the products, or the specific transport arrangements have not been disclosed. These crucial parameters will emerge following the technical evaluation of the submitted proposals.
A volume representing nearly five months of external purchases
When compared to recent trade flows, the scale of this operation is substantial. The Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development (MINEPAT)’s 2025 Report on the Cameroonian Economy, drawing on statistics from the Directorate General of Customs, indicates that Cameroon imported 150,420 tons of liquefied butanes last year, an increase from 145,163 tons in 2024. This 3.6% annual growth underscores a consistent rise in demand, driven by increasing urbanization and the ongoing shift away from wood-based energy sources.
Despite the volume increase, the customs bill actually saw a reduction, decreasing from 59.38 billion to 56.159 billion FCFA, a 5.4% decline primarily attributed to more favorable average import prices. Within this context, the 60,000 tons sought through the tender represent 39.9% of the volume acquired in 2025, effectively covering almost five months of average monthly consumption. In commercial terms, this tonnage is equivalent to 4.8 million 12.5 kg gas cylinders. Based on an average customs value of approximately 373,348 FCFA per ton last year, the theoretical market value for this tender would approach 22.4 billion FCFA, though the final price will depend on the chosen specifications and negotiated delivery terms.
Bipaga, a local buffer with limited capacities
Cameroon does possess domestic production capabilities through the Bipaga gas processing center, situated in the Southern region and operational since 2018. The National Hydrocarbons Company (SNH)’s 2023 annual report revealed 34,699 tons were delivered that year, up from 28,677 tons in 2022. This 21% increase marked the facility’s second-best performance since its inception. However, these national volumes remain structurally insufficient to meet the country’s internal demand.
In July 2026, the SNH confirmed that Bipaga is projected to maintain an annual LPG output of around 30,000 tons, even following the cessation of operations at the Hilli Episeyo floating unit. This baseline figure falls significantly short of the 150,420 tons imported in 2025. This substantial gap highlights the Cameroonian market’s susceptibility to external disruptions, whether logistical or price-related, thereby justifying the frequent tenders initiated by the CSPH to secure essential supplies.
An issue of energy security and price stability
The tender launched on September 1 serves two interconnected objectives. Firstly, it aims to eliminate any risk of supply shortages during the final quarter of 2026, particularly crucial in a nation where butane gas is the primary domestic fuel for urban households. Secondly, authorities are striving to mitigate the budgetary strain associated with the implicit subsidy on the price per gas cylinder, a long-standing burden on public finances managed through the CSPH’s stabilization mechanism.
In practical terms, the true scope of this market — including its final cost, delivery timeline, and impact on strategic reserves — will only become clear once the adjudication process concludes on September 8. The composition of the successful bids will also indicate whether the government intends to favor established operators within Cameroon or open opportunities to new international traders, a key point for pan-African current affairs observers.
