The Kribi refinery project, led by Cstar in partnership with the Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH) and Tradex, is reaching a crucial stage. George Li, Chairman of the RCG consortium, confirmed on February 27, 2026, during a meeting at the SNH headquarters in Yaoundé, that the testing and commissioning of the equipment are scheduled for the end of the year. This announcement marks an acceleration of the initial timeline, placing Cameroon on the path to energy sovereignty.
The updated schedule anticipates the completion of the FEED (Front-End Engineering Design) studies in June 2026, an essential step before launching major construction work. The delivery of equipment is scheduled for September 2026, with production starting around December 25, 2026. The initial production capacity is announced at 10,000 barrels per day, before reaching 30,000 barrels per day from 2027.
Preparatory work is already underway at the Kribi site. Nathalie Moudiki, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Cstar, indicated that the base camp is set up and a team of engineers has been deployed since January 2026 to oversee the start of construction. The laying of the first stone took place on July 17, 2025, marking the official launch of the project.
The commissioning of the Kribi refinery is a key element of Cameroon's energy sovereignty strategy. The shutdown of Sonara, the country's only refinery, since 2019 following a fire, has made Cameroon entirely dependent on imports of petroleum products. According to Nathalie Moudiki, SNH intends to play a central role in securing oil stocks and ensuring energy resilience for the country.
The anticipated production of 10,000 barrels per day from 2026 would cover approximately 22% of the national demand for diesel and gasoline, according to Cstar estimates. This project represents a significant advance compared to the initial schedule, which foresaw commissioning in June 2028.
The Kribi complex, located on 250 hectares in the industrial-port area, will include a refinery with a capacity of 30,000 barrels per day and a storage terminal of 250,000 m³, expandable to 300,000 m³. The works are carried out by a consortium composed of RCG Turnkey Solutions, Global Process Systems (GPS) and Norinco International.
The project promoters estimate that the Kribi refinery could generate annual savings of around 400 billion FCFA on fuel imports. Export revenues of approximately 141 billion FCFA per year are also expected, particularly through the sale of marine fuels. The project is expected to create approximately 7,000 jobs, including 2,000 direct jobs. Cstar is a company owned by Ariana Energy (49%), Tradex S.A. (31%) and SNH (20%).
With the upcoming commissioning of the Kribi refinery, Cameroon is positioning itself as a major player in the regional energy sector. The reduction of dependence on imports and the creation of local jobs are significant economic benefits expected from this structuring project.
