The construction of a strategic fuel storage depot in the port city of Kribi marks a historic announcement by Cameroon, with the potential to revolutionize the nation’s energy infrastructure. The project, which is expected to cost $200 million (114 billion FCFA), aims to significantly enhance the country’s energy security and fuel storage capacity.
The Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH) and its subsidiary Tradex have partnered to build the storage facility, which is expected to house between 250,000 and 300,000 metric tons of petroleum products. The RCC consortium, an experienced company with a history of 35 successful energy projects worldwide, will be tasked with carrying out the infrastructure, which will be funded using a project finance model.
On April 25, 2025, CSTAR FARM Project Management LLC, a specialized project business, was formally created in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to oversee and direct the endeavor. The new company is governed by Emirati law and has a capital shareholding structure that includes 20% SNH, 31% Tradex, and 49% Ariana Energy. Leading the shareholder group supporting the project is Ariana Energy.
Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) investigations are already 80% finished, with full completion anticipated by July 31, 2025, according to project executives. This is rapid progress on a project of this size.
Beyond its domestic benefits, the project also aims to position Cameroon as a key energy and industrial hub for Central Africa, enhancing both national resilience and regional influence in the oil and gas sector.
Once completed, the Kribi depot is expected to play a crucial role in stabilizing fuel supply chains, supporting industrial activity, and attracting further foreign investment into the country’s energy infrastructure.
