The announcement came during a high-level meeting in Yaoundé between Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and a Dangote Group delegation led by Devakumar Edwin, the company’s Vice President for Oil and Gas.

From cement to crude: Dangote’s Cameroon blueprint

During the meeting, Dangote’s leadership outlined plans to double the production capacity of its cement plant in Douala while simultaneously investing in downstream oil infrastructure. Edwin emphasized that these projects aim to meet Cameroon’s growing energy infrastructure needs.

Cameroon’s oil sector has faced significant challenges in recent years, particularly following the devastating fire at the Sonara refinery in May 2019. The facility, the country’s only refinery, has been largely inactive since the incident, forcing Cameroon to import refined petroleum products at higher costs. Dangote’s entry into the market is seen as both a short-term solution to stabilize supply and a long-term catalyst for the country’s energy independence.

Strategic partnership with Sonara

The Cameroon government is positioning this potential partnership with Dangote as a strategic move. While the government seeks to leverage Dangote’s financial and technical resources to address immediate fuel shortages, it remains committed to a 700 billion FCFA project to rebuild and modernize the Sonara refinery. The goal is to achieve energy self-sufficiency while ensuring sustainable growth in the sector.

The Dangote Group’s dual investment strategy—expanding cement production while entering the oil sector—reflects its confidence in Cameroon’s economic potential. The move also aligns with the government’s broader infrastructure development goals, particularly in the construction sector, which has shown strong growth momentum.

As negotiations progress, industry observers anticipate that Dangote’s involvement could accelerate Cameroon’s energy sector transformation, creating new opportunities for both local businesses and international investors.