Cameroon is moving forward with plans to rehabilitate its sole refinery, six years after a massive fire forced the facility to halt operations.

The Société Nationale de Raffinage (Sonara) plant in Limbe, which has the capacity to process 42,000 barrels of crude per day, has been idle since 2019. Government officials have now approved a recovery program, known as Parras 24, that sets a two-year timeline for repairs and restructuring, with the goal of restarting production by 2027.

Authorities say reviving the refinery will help reduce Cameroon’s reliance on costly fuel imports, ease pressure on foreign reserves, and stabilize prices at home. The project is also expected to enhance the country’s role in Central Africa’s energy market, where supply continues to lag behind demand.

The long shutdown has left the downstream sector heavily exposed, forcing Cameroon to cover domestic consumption almost entirely with imports. By 2021, Sonara’s debts had risen to CFA376 billion, while rehabilitation costs are projected to exceed CFA250 billion.

In a statement, the company assured stakeholders that the national market would remain supplied during the rehabilitation period. However, analysts note that financing, technical upgrades, and compliance with international fuel standards remain significant challenges.

Sonara, which is majority state-owned with French energy major Total holding a small stake, can refine up to 2.1 million tonnes of crude annually when fully operational. Its return could narrow the region’s fuel supply gap and reduce dependence on European imports.

If the plan succeeds, Cameroon’s refinery will re-emerge as a cornerstone of the Gulf of Guinea’s supply network, but experts warn that meeting the 2027 deadline will require strong government backing and timely execution of upgrades.