(Business in Cameroon) - Domestic gas consumption grew from 67,000 tons in 2011 to 110,000 tons this year, the Ministry of energy revealed. This represents an average growth by 9% a year and 64% over the whole period.

The improvement was made possible thanks to the expansion and modernization of the National Refining Company (Sonara). The company indeed broadened its storage capacity for crude oil and refined products from 328,000 m3 in 2011 to 455,000 m3 in 2018 (+38.7%).

Meanwhile, the national fuel deposits company (SCDP) doubled its storage capacity from 2,370 tons in 2011 to 4,970 tons in 2018 (+2,600 tons or +109.7%). Let’s note that one of the milestones achieved over the period was the construction and operation since 2017 of a floating natural gas liquefaction plant off the coast in Kribi. The facility enables a continued development of gas resources, especially in Sanaga South which hosts up to 500 BCF (Billion Cubic Feet) of natural gas, or about 14.16 billion m3. Annual natural gas production is 1.2 million tons.

A gas treatment unit has also been built in Bipaga, off the coast of Kribi, with an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas. In addition, two storage spheres of 500 tons each were built in Bipaga with a tanker truck loading station to supply the SCDP's bottling center in Yaoundé.

S.A