Fako and Limbe officials visit reconstruction works in progress
Administrators and local government authorities have expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far in the on-going Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of SONARA.
The authorities including SDO for Fako and Limbe DO, local council heads for Limbe express their satisfaction during a visit to the rehabilitation work site September 25, 2025.
Their visit on the invitation of the General Manager of SONARA. El Hadj BAKO Harouna, was to witness and assess the progress the preliminary reconstruction phase of the work.
“I am pleased to inform you that, this work indeed started on 15th September, 2025…Today, as promised, I also invited you to touch the realities on the ground in order to assess the scope of the site for the thorough inspections of the facilities destroyed by the Disaster of May 31, 2019,” SONARA GM said.
Fako’s SDO, Viang Mekala, the Chiefs, Members of Parliament, Limbe City Mayor etc all lauded the rehabilitation efforts of the oil company.
“I thank the GM for his determination to communicate about the project…I can understand today that he wants us to know precisely what is going on and how it’s progressing…
“As the Representative of the State, I would want to re-assure the people of Fako and beyond that the reconstruction is very effective,” the SDO said.
The ongoing reconstruction process, following the May 31, 2019, fire incident, has been initiated by the Head of State, Paul Biya and is based on “a Plan to Accelerate Restructuring/Rehabilitation measures, with a view to resuming Refining at SONARA within a period of 24 months dubbed – PARRAS 24.
It should be recalled that Cameroon’s National Refining Company (Sonara) approved on August 13 the Acceleration Plan for Restructuring and Rehabilitation Measures for Refining Restart within 24 months (Parras 24). The initiative agreed upon during a Board Meeting aims to resume production by 2027 with government support.
“Parras 24 is designed to relaunch Sonara’s core functions and ensure the continuity of petroleum product supply,” the company’s official statement said. The plan calls for recapitalization and new partnerships to fund the rehabilitation and quick restart of production. Sonara has not yet clarified whether recapitalization will involve debt buyback or fresh capital injection. In June, a joint delegation from UBAF, ING, and Mauritius Commercial Bank had proposed potential financing for the project.
Technically, Parras 24 aims to restore facilities to their state before the May 2019 fire that severely damaged part of the refinery. At the same time, Sonara will implement a workforce management program to strengthen staff skills and prepare for operations to restart.
The company continues to struggle with high debt. It currently owes CFA261 billion to banks, restructured over 10 years since 2021 at an interest rate of 5.5%. It also owes CFA185 billion to Vitol, CFA8.5 billion to PSTV, CFA14 billion to Trafigura, and CFA20 billion to Mercuria Energy. Repayment of these debts has been ongoing since 2022 through a state mechanism that collects CFA47.8 on each liter of fuel sold at the pump.
While Parras 24 is underway, Sonara has assured partners and customers of steady supply. “The supply of refined products on the national and international market will continue in both quantity and quality until the full restart of the refinery,” the company said.
This ambitious plan, combining strategic financing, technical rehabilitation, and workforce development, marks a decisive step for Cameroon’s oil sector and the stability of its domestic market.
