Cameroon’s Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, led an intense five-hour unannounced field inspection tour across Yaounde on Monday, September 28, 2026. This in a move to enforce supply stability.
Accompanied by close aides, the minister spent the morning from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM personally evaluating the availability of domestic liquefied petroleum gas – LPG and kerosene. Following a circular letter issued on September 23 instructing operators to streamline their supply chains, the surprise inspection aimed to verify compliance, identify persistent logistical bottlenecks, and accelerate corrective measures directly at the retail level.
The unannounced tour encompassed 18 key locations, ranging from major service stations to high-capacity LPG bottling facilities. The delegation visited major retail outlets including TotalEnergies Odza, Neptune Messamendongo, Tradex Messamendongo, TotalEnergies MAGZI, OLA Energy MAGZI, BOCOM Mvan, MRS Mvan, Green Oil Ekié, Tradex Bastos, and Tradex Mballa II. In addition, the minister inspected industrial centers such as Infotech SA (PleinGaz), Star Gaz, AfriGaz, and Bota Oil MAGZI Sud to examine safety protocols, cylinder integrity, and bulk supply capacities.
The inspections revealed a stark contrast in product availability depending on the location and operator. While stations like Tradex Bastos demonstrated strong performance, distributing up to 1,100 domestic gas recharges daily alongside regular kerosene service, others experienced severe shortages. For instance, OLA Energy MAGZI reported a three-week stockout of domestic gas, while BOCOM Mvan lacked both LPG and kerosene at the time of the visit. At Green Oil Ekié II, a fresh delivery of 160 gas cylinders arrived right as the minister arrived, illustrating real-time supply adjustments on the ground.
Whenever supply disruptions or administrative delays were detected, Minister Eloundou Essomba took immediate action by calling company managing directors directly from the field. He questioned executives on delivery schedules, demand levels, and order fulfillment to resolve bottlenecks on the spot.
Beyond product availability, safety compliance was rigorously audited at bottling plants like Star Gaz and AfriGaz, where the minister inspected water booster pumps, fire defense systems, and cylinder safety testing protocols.
A central focus of the tour was Tradex Mballa II, identified as a high-demand, high-pressure distribution hub. The station routinely processes 1,500 to 2,000 liters of kerosene daily and delivers hundreds of LPG refills to local residents. Pointing to the persistent demand in the area, the minister issued firm instructions to station managers and suppliers that interruptions in service would no longer be tolerated, ordering continuous and prioritized stock replenishment for critical urban hubs.
Throughout the operation, the minister’s overarching message to petroleum marketers was unambiguous: “Put gas in all sales points.” He instructed marketers and distributors to intensify deliveries across the capital city, expanding supply operations to include Saturdays and Sundays. Emphasizing that temporary interventions are insufficient, Eloundou Essomba urged industry players to work toward complete market saturation to permanently eliminate artificial scarcity and panic buying.
Regarding kerosene distribution, the minister demanded seamless, transparent service wherever stocks were available. Where stockouts persisted, such as at Neptune Messamendongo and TotalEnergies Boulevard Présidentiel, operators were instructed to fast-track deliveries and repurpose storage tanks where necessary to accommodate consumer needs. Station managers were directed to keep the ministry informed on a daily basis regarding product inflows and sales metrics.
As the country enters the fourth quarter of the year, Minister Eloundou Essomba stressed that government oversight will remain rigorous. He called on all sector actors to maintain high vigilance, anticipate seasonal demand surges, and streamline logistics.
Moving from written administrative directives to active field monitoring, the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy has signaled its resolve to enforce market stability and guarantee continuous energy access for households across Cameroon.
