Cameroon’s domestic gas market is advancing significantly with the announcement of a tender for 60,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), set to open on September 1, 2026. Okie Johnson Ndoh, who chairs the ad hoc Commission for Petroleum Product Imports (CIPP), signed the official notice. This substantial volume has been divided into two distinct lots: one for 35,000 tons and another for 25,000 tons. The initiative’s primary goal is to fulfill the nation’s consumption requirements for the 2026 fiscal year.

Prospective bidders can obtain application documents from the headquarters of the Hydrocarbons Price Stabilization Fund (CSPH), conveniently located at Warda roundabout in Yaoundé. The formal opening and awarding of bids are scheduled for September 8 at noon, taking place within the same premises. Currently, specifics such as the projected market value, the source countries of the products, or the transportation logistics remain undefined. These crucial details will be determined following a thorough technical evaluation of all submitted proposals.

A volume equivalent to nearly five months of external purchases

When juxtaposed with recent trade flows, the sheer scale of this procurement operation is striking. The Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development (MINEPAT), in its 2025 Report on the Cameroonian Economy, citing data from the Directorate General of Customs, revealed that the nation imported 150,420 tons of liquefied butanes last year, a rise from 145,163 tons in 2024. This 3.6% year-on-year increase underscores a steadily escalating demand, fueled by rapid urbanization and the ongoing transition away from traditional wood-based energy sources.

Despite the increased volume, the customs bill actually saw a reduction, decreasing from 59.38 billion to 56.159 billion FCFA, a 5.4% drop largely attributed to a softening of average import prices. Within this context, the 60,000 tons currently being sought constitute a significant 39.9% of the total volume acquired in 2025, effectively covering almost five months of average monthly consumption. In terms of commercial units, this tonnage translates to approximately 4.8 million 12.5 kg gas cylinders. Using last year’s average customs value of about 373,348 FCFA per ton, the theoretical financial scope of this contract could reach around 22.4 billion FCFA, though the final price will ultimately be shaped by the specific requirements and negotiated delivery terms.

Bipaga: a local buffer with limited capacity

Cameroon does, however, possess domestic production capabilities through the Bipaga gas processing center, operational since 2018 in the Southern region. The 2023 annual report from the National Hydrocarbons Company (SNH) indicated that 34,699 tons were supplied that year, an increase from 28,677 tons in 2022. This 21% growth marked the facility’s second-highest performance since its inception. Nevertheless, these volumes are structurally inadequate to fully meet the nation’s internal demand.

In July 2026, SNH reaffirmed Bipaga’s commitment to sustaining an annual LPG output of approximately 30,000 tons, even after the cessation of operations at the Hilli Episeyo floating unit. This baseline figure remains significantly lower than the 150,420 tons imported in 2025. Such a disparity highlights the Cameroonian market’s susceptibility to external disruptions, whether logistical or price-related, thereby underscoring the necessity of frequent tenders initiated by the CSPH to safeguard essential supplies.

An imperative for energy security and price stability

The tender launched on September 1 is thus designed to achieve two interconnected objectives. Firstly, it aims to preempt any potential supply shortages during the final quarter of 2026, particularly crucial in a nation where butane gas serves as the primary urban domestic fuel. Secondly, authorities are striving to mitigate the financial burden associated with the implicit subsidy on bottle prices, a long-standing strain on public finances managed through the CSPH’s stabilization mechanism.

In practical terms, the full scope of this market, encompassing the final cost, delivery timelines, and its impact on strategic reserves, will only become clear once the award process concludes on September 8. The selection of successful bids will also offer insight into whether the government intends to favor established operators within the Cameroonian market or if it seeks to broaden participation to include new international traders.