MINEE’s GASTON ÉLOUNDOU ESSOMBA INAUGURATES THE BAMENDA DOMESTIC GAS FILLING PLANT: ANOTHER DECISIVE STEP TOWARDS PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

MINEE’s GASTON ÉLOUNDOU ESSOMBA INAUGURATES THE BAMENDA DOMESTIC GAS FILLING PLANT: ANOTHER DECISIVE STEP TOWARDS PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

As part of the implementation of the High Instructions of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, concerning the improvement of the living conditions of the population and the promotion of clean energy, the Minister of Water and Energy inaugurated a modern gas storage and distribution infrastructure in the regional capital of the North-West. This strategic project confirms the government’s commitment to the harmonious development of all regions of Cameroon.

The city of Bamenda hosted a major event this Friday, May 9, 2025: the inauguration of the new LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Filling Plant. The Minister of Water and Energy (MINEE), Gaston Eloundou Essomba, representing the Prime Minister, Head of Government, presided over the ceremony in the presence of an assembly including other members of the Government, regional elites, the Governors of the North-West and West Regions, parliamentarians, administrative, military and religious authorities, traditional chiefs, as well as the General Manager of the Hydrocarbons Price Stabilization Fund (CSPH) and the Deputy General Manager of the Cameroon Petroleum Depot Company (SCDP).

A Presidential Vision for Access to Modern Energy

This strategic infrastructure, built by the CSPH, is perfectly aligned with the vision of President Paul BIYA for an emergent Cameroon by 2035. It is a concrete materialization of the policy of decentralization and territorial equity advocated by the Head of State, who personally ensures that major development projects benefit the entire national territory. In his speech, the Minister recalled that this achievement stems directly from the instructions of the President of the Republic, who has made access to modern energy for all Cameroonians an absolute priority.

The ceremony began with the performance of the national anthem, followed by an ecumenical prayer and a ritual by the Traditional Chiefs. The Mayor of the City of Bamenda then delivered a warm welcome address, before the Minister of Water and Energy proceeded with the presentation of Special Decorations from the Head of State. The technical presentation of the project was provided by the General Management of the SCDP, followed by speeches from the President of the North-West Regional Assembly and the General Manager of the CSPH. The highlight of the speeches was the address by the Minister of Water and Energy, representing the Prime Minister, Head of Government.

Significant Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts

The Bamenda LPG Filling Plant, equipped with cutting-edge technology, will play a decisive role by:

Guaranteeing the permanent availability of domestic gas throughout the North-West region;
Reducing and harmonizing gas cylinder prices and combating speculation;
Contributing significantly to the reduction of deforestation and the mitigation of climate change effects;
Promoting public health through the use of clean cooking energy;
Creating approximately 1,000 direct and indirect jobs;
Relieving congestion at the Bafoussam SCDP depot.

Beyond its economic and environmental advantages, this project holds important significance for peace and social stability in the region. In accordance with President Paul BIYA’s directives on living together and national cohesion, this modern infrastructure also symbolizes the definitive return of peace to this part of the national territory, previously shaken by socio-political unrest. Minister Eloundou Essomba urged the population to prioritize the use of domestic gas over firewood for cooking, emphasizing the importance of preserving health and protecting the environment. He also recommended favoring local employment by recruiting qualified youth from Bamenda.

Following the speeches, the CSPH distributed gifts to the local population. The ceremony continued with the highly anticipated ribbon-cutting moment, followed by a guided tour of the Bamenda LPG Filling Plant and the solemn unveiling of the inauguration plaque.

The Cameroonian government, under the leadership of President Paul BIYA, thus reaffirms its unwavering commitment to continuing the modernization of the country and responding to the concerns of its citizens. The inauguration of the Bamenda LPG Filling Plant constitutes a strong symbol of this presidential will and a concrete step towards a future of peace and shared prosperity in the North-West Region.