KRIBI REFINERY : Engineering Studies Reach 80% Completion Rate by End of February 2026
La voix des entreprises 
(LVDE) — In Mboro, within the Kribi port area, the foundations of a strategic energy project are steadily taking shape. Led by Cstar and the National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH), the future refinery is advancing at a sustained pace, with engineering studies reported to be 80% complete, according to officials from the consortium overseeing the works.
On the site, still marked by earthmoving operations, the construction base camp is now fully operational, and technical teams have intensified activities since January 2026. Launched in July 2025, the project involves the construction of a crude oil refinery and a strategic storage terminal aimed at strengthening Cameroon’s energy autonomy. During a meeting held on February 27, 2026, at SNH headquarters in Yaoundé, project stakeholders reviewed progress described as encouraging.
Georges Li, President of the RCG consortium, stated that detailed engineering studies have reached an 80% completion rate. More than one thousand experts, mainly from China and India, are ready to be deployed to support technology transfer and equipment installation. Civil engineering works are moving forward to secure the main structures ahead of the rainy season. Initial technical testing phases and the gradual commissioning of facilities are scheduled for the end of the year.
The project, spearheaded by Cstar with SNH’s support, предусматриes the construction of a refinery spanning approximately 250 hectares, with an initial processing capacity of 30,000 barrels per day. Ultimately, the facility is expected to reduce imports of refined petroleum products by nearly 30%. According to projections shared by the developers, this substitution could generate annual savings estimated at 750 million dollars, at a time when the country’s energy import bill weighs heavily on the trade balance.
In addition, a storage terminal with an initial capacity ranging from 250,000 to 300,000 cubic meters — expandable over time — will be developed to build up strategic reserves. Diesel, gasoline, kerosene, Jet A1 and heavy fuel oil will be stored to secure supply for the domestic market. According to data from the Ministry of Water and Energy, national consumption of petroleum products exceeds 2 million tons per year, with demand steadily increasing.
The overall investment is estimated between 198 and 200 million dollars, equivalent to approximately 115 billion CFA francs. The project will be implemented in three phases, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2028. Financing is being structured with the support of BGFIBank Cameroon, mandated to mobilize the required funds following the authorization of a loan agreement on February 19, 2026.
For Nathalie Moudiki, Chair of Cstar’s Board of Directors and representative of SNH’s Chief Executive Officer, the initiative aligns with a broader drive toward energy sovereignty. Beyond industrial infrastructure, authorities are counting on job creation, local capacity building, and improved fuel supply stability.
In a country that has relied heavily on imported refined products since the shutdown of Sonara in 2019, the Kribi refinery stands out as a strategic bet. The challenge now lies in maintaining timelines and securing financing to turn declared ambitions into tangible industrial reality.
Raphael Mforlem
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Tressy CHOUENTE 
Esther Grâce 
