Cameroon’s Kribi Oil Refinery Targets Early Operations in 2026 to Cut Fuel Imports
Cameroon’s Kribi oil refinery is on track to begin partial operations in the second half of 2026, nearly two years ahead of its original commissioning timeline.
The project represents the country’s first major new oil processing facility in decades and is expected to significantly reduce reliance on imported fuel.
The initial phase of the refinery is designed to process up to 10,000 barrels per day, roughly one-third of its planned final capacity.
At this level, the facility is expected to meet more than one-fifth of national demand for diesel and gasoline, helping to stabilise domestic fuel supply and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
The project is backed by a consortium including Cstar Petroleum, the National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH), Tradex SA, and Ariana Energy. Preparatory works, including the establishment of a base camp, are already underway, while full-scale construction is scheduled to commence in early 2026.
The refinery is being developed on a 250-hectare site located approximately five kilometres from the deep-water port of Kribi, providing direct access to export and import logistics.
Front-end engineering and design studies are nearing completion, indicating steady progress toward construction.
The refinery is being executed through a Dubai-based special purpose vehicle and is designed to reach a full processing capacity of 30,000 barrels per day once completed.
The complex will also include a large fuel storage terminal capable of handling a range of refined products, including diesel, gasoline, aviation fuel, kerosene, and heavy fuel oil.
Construction is being managed by an international consortium of engineering and industrial firms, while a local financial institution is supporting capital raising for the project.
Once fully operational, the refinery is expected to generate substantial export revenues from marine fuels and petrochemical products, deliver significant savings on fuel imports, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, alongside transferring technical skills to the local workforce.
Cameroon currently relies heavily on imported refined petroleum products following the shutdown of its only other refinery in Limbe in 2019.
Fuel supplies are sourced from regional producers and international markets, exposing the country to price volatility and supply disruptions.
By increasing domestic refining capacity, the Kribi refinery is expected to enhance energy security and reduce external dependence.
Although Cameroon’s crude oil production is relatively modest and concentrated in offshore basins, oil remains an important contributor to government revenue and exports.
As mature fields decline, expanding domestic processing capacity has become increasingly important. The Kribi refinery is therefore expected to strengthen Cameroon’s position within the regional energy market and support its ambition to play a more prominent role in Central and Sub-Saharan Africa’s oil value chain.
