The Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, conducted a working visit to the Cameroon Petroleum Storage Company SCDP) depot in Nsam, Yaoundé, on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
The primary purpose of the inspection was to evaluate the operational measures put in place to resolve recent supply tensions and verify the volume of domestic gas being distributed to the public. Following earlier checks at filling stations and bottling plants, the visit underscores the Ministry’s active monitoring across every stage of the country’s fuel distribution network.
To stabilize supply and ease public concern, the government has established a strict delivery target of 200 metric tons of domestic gas per day for the city of Yaounde. Recent market shortages triggered widespread anxiety, prompting panic buying and a surge in household demand.
Minister Eloundou Essomba emphasized that maintaining this high volume consistently for several days is essential to fully saturate the local market, restore consumer confidence, and facilitate a complete return to normal conditions.
While acknowledging that market conditions are gradually improving, the Minister stressed that resolving the crisis requires coordinated action from both public and private actors. Beyond the active mobilization of SCDP facilities, private bottling companies have been urged to operate at maximum capacity and ensure steady deliveries to retail points of sale. Similar stabilization targets have been set across key urban hubs, including a target of 220 metric tons per day dedicated to Douala.
During the site tour alongside SCDP management, officials discussed critical operational bottlenecks currently impacting output, particularly congestion during the kegging and bottling processes. To permanently resolve these constraints, SCDP plans to commission a new carousel in Yaoundé by December and expand Douala’s hub to double its current loading capacity.
Additional internal measures are already underway, including two shift-based operational teams, upgraded weighbridge systems, and planned investments in stackers to improve palletization handling and efficiency.
Logistical challenges remain a significant hurdle in maintaining a swift supply loop between major industrial hubs. Transporting product by road from Douala to Yaoundé requires at least 7 hours and 30 minutes per trip, which creates delays in vehicle turnarounds, while tank car capacities have struggled to keep pace with growing demand. To address these systemic issues, ministry officials met with key industry distributors, including Tradex, to align commercial policies, streamline transport logistics, and optimize delivery workflows.
The Minister’s visit concluded with a live fire drill, allowing delegation members to inspect the depot’s safety protocols and emergency responsiveness.
Expressing overall satisfaction with the security measures and operational adjustments at the Nsam depot, Minister Eloundou Essomba delivered a message of encouragement to SCDP management and staff. He reaffirmed the necessity of maintaining the 200 metric ton daily quota until the supply chain is fully stabilized nationwide.
