As of March 20, 2026, Rocoby Groupement d’Intérêts Économique (Gie), a Cameroonian company specializing in sanitation services, will manage the operation and maintenance of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant (STBV) in Douala, located in Ngombè, in the 5th district [cite: ]. The announcement was made on March 17, 2026, by Gérémie Sollè, the first deputy mayor of Douala, during a meeting with the service provider and waste disposal companies, formalizing the closure of the Youpwè waste disposal site, which had been in use for several decades [cite: ].
Rocoby Gie was selected following a call for tenders and awarded a three-year renewable management contract. The exact amount of this contract has not been disclosed. Already managing a similar station in Yaoundé, Rocoby Gie will now collaborate with waste disposal companies in Douala, offering them a free month of waste disposal to test the new facilities [cite: ].
After this trial period, a fee of 400 FCFA per m3 of sludge will be applied, representing a minimum cost of 6,000 FCFA per truck, compared to 1,500 FCFA previously in Youpwè. This new rate, considered high by the waste disposal companies, has led the Douala Urban Community (CUD), Rocoby, and the waste disposal companies to begin discussions to establish a fair price that allows Rocoby to make the station profitable [cite: ].
The construction of the Ngombè station, financed by an 8 billion FCFA loan from the World Bank, was carried out in 24 months by China First Highway Engineering Co. (CFHEC) on an area of 10 hectares [cite: ]. This commissioning comes at a crucial time, as Douala faces significant challenges in managing waste sludge [cite: ].
A study by GFA Consulting (GMBH group) reveals that Douala produces approximately 1,000 tons of waste sludge per year. Currently, less than 20% of this volume is treated, mainly by private operators. The remainder, approximately 84%, is illegally dumped in the Bois des Singes area in Youpwè, creating health and environmental risks [cite: ].
The new Ngombè station aims to reduce these risks by treating waste sludge and recovering it in the form of compost. A related solid waste treatment project, planned on 60 hectares, is also under development, with studies already completed [cite: ]. The commissioning of this station marks an important step in improving sanitation and protecting the environment in Douala.
