The domestic gas market in Cameroon is advancing to a new phase following the launch of a competitive tender on September 1, 2026. This initiative seeks bids for 60,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The official notification, signed by Okie Johnson Ndoh, who chairs the Ad Hoc Commission for Petroleum Product Imports (CIPP), divides this substantial volume into two distinct lots: one for 35,000 tons and another for 25,000 tons. According to official statements, the operation is designed to meet the nation’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 Warda roundabout in Yaoundé. The public opening and adjudication of bids are scheduled for September 8 at noon, taking place at the same venue. At this preliminary stage, details regarding the projected market value, the origin of the products, or the logistical arrangements for transport 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 viewed against recent trade flows, the scale of this tender is quite significant. The Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development (MINEPAT)’s 2025 Report on the Cameroonian Economy, drawing on data from the Directorate General of Customs, indicates that Cameroon imported 150,420 tons of liquefied butane last year, an increase from 145,163 tons in 2024. This represents a 3.6% year-on-year growth, signaling a continuous rise in demand driven by urbanization and the ongoing shift away from wood-energy sources.
Despite increased volumes, the customs bill actually saw a reduction, decreasing from 59.38 billion to 56.159 billion FCFA. This 5.4% decline is attributed to a softening of average import prices. Within this context, the 60,000 tons currently sought account for 39.9% of the total volume acquired in 2025, effectively covering nearly five months of average monthly consumption. Translated into commercial units, this tonnage is equivalent to approximately 4.8 million 12.5 kg gas cylinders. Based on an average customs value of around 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 ultimately depend on the specific terms and negotiated delivery conditions.
Bipaga: a local buffer with limited capacity
Cameroon does possess a national production capability through the Bipaga gas treatment center, situated in the Southern region and operational since 2018. The 2023 annual report from the National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH) recorded 34,699 tons 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 domestic volumes remain structurally insufficient to meet the country’s internal demand.
In July 2026, the SNH confirmed that Bipaga is expected to maintain an annual LPG output of approximately 30,000 tons, even after the cessation of operations at the Hilli Episeyo floating unit. This baseline figure is substantially lower than the 150,420 tons imported in 2025. This significant discrepancy highlights the Cameroonian market’s vulnerability to external shocks, whether logistical or pricing-related, and underscores why the CSPH frequently issues tenders to secure essential supplies.
An issue of energy security and price stability
The tender launched on September 1 therefore aims to achieve two interconnected objectives. Firstly, it seeks to eliminate any risk of supply disruption during the final quarter of 2026, especially in a nation where butane gas is the primary urban domestic fuel. Secondly, authorities are striving to manage the budgetary exposure associated with the implicit subsidy on cylinder prices, 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 after the adjudication process concludes on September 8. The composition of the successful bids will also indicate whether the government intends to favor existing operators within the Cameroonian market or open the field to new international traders.
