Cameroon has joined a growing list of African countries turning to Dangote Group for support in refining, as the country seeks solutions to restart its Sonara refinery, which has been partially shut since a major fire in 2019. The talks aim to secure both financial and technical assistance, reflecting the wider regional interest in leveraging Africa’s largest refinery to strengthen fuel supply, Business Insider Africa reported.
Officials from Sonara are exploring collaboration with Dangote Petroleum Refinery on a recovery strategy valued at roughly CFA291.9 billion, which would help restore output and reduce Cameroon’s dependence on imported fuels. The discussions, sources in Yaoundé said, are part of broader efforts to modernise the refinery and secure sustainable operations.
The Dangote Refinery in Lagos, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has become a major supplier to neighbouring African markets, including Cameroon. Its growing output and distribution capabilities make it an attractive partner for countries looking to bolster domestic energy security and access reliable refined products, Arise TV reported.
Cameroonian officials have also visited Lagos to review Dangote’s operational expertise and technical processes, signalling a practical approach to strengthening local refining capacity. Analysts say such partnerships could mark a new phase of intra-African energy cooperation, helping countries with underutilized or damaged refineries to leverage existing capacity and reduce fuel import bills.
