The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) is set to enhance the quality and safety of its infrastructure through a strategic partnership with Hydrocarbures, analyses et contrôles (Hydrac), a subsidiary of the Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH) [cite: ]. The announcement of this upcoming collaboration was made on February 27, 2026, by Cyrus Ngo'o, the General Manager of PAD, during an inspection of ongoing construction sites within the port area [cite: ].
"We are very satisfied with the progress of the construction sites and hope to establish a collaboration framework with Hydrac in the coming days to benefit from the expertise of this public company," stated Mr. Ngo'o [cite: ]. This initiative aligns with PAD's commitment to secure and ensure the reliability of port modernization projects [cite: ].
The partnership agreement aims to guarantee rigorous technical expertise and optimal quality of port infrastructure, through technical control of the structures at each stage, from design to completion [cite: ]. The main objective is to ensure the solidity of the structures and their compliance with current standards [cite: ].
Hydrac, specializing in oil inspection, will play a crucial role in controlling port terminals, particularly in the measurement, sealing, and analysis of losses during cargo transshipment operations [cite: ]. The company will lend its expertise to structuring projects such as a 300 MW power plant, intended to stabilize the port's energy supply, as well as the modernization of the fishing terminal and the mixed bulk terminal [cite: ].
Established in 1982, Hydrac was initially mandated to protect Cameroon's interests in oil transactions [cite: ]. Today, its scope of action extends to inspections in the upstream and downstream oil sectors, regulatory technical controls, technical construction control missions, laboratory analyses, environmental control, and technical training [cite: ].
This specific agreement project on the technical mastery of structures is seen as a strategic initiative, which is a continuation of the inspection missions already carried out by Hydrac for the benefit of port infrastructure [cite: ]. By leveraging Hydrac's expertise, PAD hopes to reduce operational risks and enhance the attractiveness of its port hub [cite: ]. Cyrus Ngo'o has been the head of PAD since 2016 and has been implementing a modernization program.
