SCDP Cameroon LPG Hub Investment: CFA11.65B Boosts Gas Distribution

• Cameroon's SCDP plans to invest CFA11.65 billion, including taxes, in an LPG logistics hub at its Bonabéri depot in Douala.
• The project aims to strengthen gas distribution to the country's interior through new road and rail facilities.
• Key components include a new 1,000-metric-ton storage sphere (S8), which was completed and commissioned in February 2025, a tanker-truck loading area, and a rail loading station for six tank cars, with plans to increase to seven.
• Estimated costs comprised CFA11.234 billion for construction and CFA417.375 million for project management assistance.
• While an international tender was initiated, the 1,000-metric-ton LPG storage sphere (S8) has been completed, and a major modernization project for loading facilities was approved in May 2026, with implementation expected to take around 20 months.

Cameroon's state-controlled petroleum storage company, SCDP, has announced a significant investment totaling CFA11.65 billion, including all applicable taxes, for the development of a crucial LPG logistics hub.

Cameroon's state-controlled petroleum storage company, SCDP, has announced a significant investment totaling CFA11.65 billion, including all applicable taxes, for the development of a crucial LPG logistics hub. This ambitious undertaking is centered at the company's existing Bonabéri depot, strategically located in Douala. The primary objective of this SCDP Cameroon LPG hub investment is to substantially bolster the distribution of gas to the nation's interior regions, leveraging enhanced road and rail facilities.

The project's financial framework allocated a substantial CFA11.234 billion specifically for construction activities, with an additional CFA417.375 million earmarked for essential project management assistance. These figures represented estimated costs at the time, as the 1,000-metric-ton LPG storage sphere (S8) has since been completed and commissioned in February 2025, and a modernization project for loading facilities was approved in May 2026. The initiative underscores a concerted effort to modernize and expand Cameroon's energy supply chain, ensuring more efficient and widespread access to liquefied petroleum gas across the country.

At the heart of the SCDP Bonabéri LPG depot expansion lies the construction of a new storage sphere, designated as S8, which boasts a nominal capacity of 1,000 metric tons. This sphere has been completed and commissioned in February 2025, increasing the depot's LPG storage capacity by 40% to 3,500 metric tons. However, the scope of this CFA11.65 billion LPG project Cameroon extends far beyond mere storage enhancement. The comprehensive plan includes the establishment of a dedicated tanker-truck loading area, designed to streamline the transfer of LPG for road transport.

Further bolstering the Cameroon gas distribution infrastructure, the project will feature a state-of-the-art rail loading station, engineered to simultaneously accommodate six tank cars, with plans to increase this to seven. A new pumping station is also part of the design, equipped with four pumps, three of which will be in continuous operation while one remains on standby to ensure reliability. The extensive contract encompasses the installation of new LPG networks and manifolds, advanced industrial safety systems, all necessary civil works, electrical infrastructure, instrumentation, automation, and comprehensive facility supervision. The selected contractor will also be responsible for the crucial phases of testing and commissioning the new facilities, alongside providing essential training for personnel who will operate the expanded hub.

While SCDP had initiated an international tender process for the LPG logistics hub, the 1,000-metric-ton LPG storage sphere (S8) has since been completed and commissioned in February 2025. Furthermore, a major modernization project for the Bonabéri LPG depot, including new loading facilities, was approved in May 2026, with implementation expected to take around 20 months. This approach signals the company's commitment to attracting high-caliber contractors capable of delivering a project of this scale and complexity, ensuring transparency and optimal value for this significant national infrastructure upgrade.

This SCDP international tender LPG represents a critical step in strengthening Cameroon's energy security and accessibility. By enhancing the capacity for LPG storage and distribution from the Douala LPG logistics hub, the project is poised to significantly improve the supply chain to the interior, reducing logistical bottlenecks and potentially stabilizing prices for consumers. The integration of new road and rail facilities is particularly vital for efficient, high-volume transport, underscoring the strategic importance of this investment for the nation's overall development.

Lawyers specializing in energy infrastructure, public procurement, or project finance should monitor SCDP's international tender process for potential advisory roles or contract opportunities related to this significant LPG logistics hub development in Cameroon. This project also signals a major infrastructure push in the energy sector, which could lead to new regulatory considerations or environmental compliance requirements.

Source: Original reporting via Africa Oil & Power