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Africa richest man Aliko Dangote has emerged as a central figure in Cameroon efforts to revive its troubled national oil refinery, as Sonara opens talks with the Dangote Group over financing and fuel supply arrangements.
Cameroon state owned refinery Sonara confirmed that discussions were held with Dangote refinery executives in Lagos as part of a broader strategy to restart operations after years of shutdown. The talks come as Sonara struggles with a debt burden estimated at four hundred and seventy nine billion CFA francs.
A Sonara delegation led by its chief executive officer El Hadj Bako Harouna traveled to Lagos between January twenty and January twenty three two thousand and twenty six. During the visit, the delegation met members of the Dangote refinery management team to explore possible financial backing and technical support.
Sonara said the discussions were aimed at laying the foundation for a long term technical and commercial partnership with the Dangote Group. Officials believe such a partnership could help stabilize fuel supply in Cameroon, support domestic consumption and strengthen the country pursuit of energy independence.
Dangote role could be pivotal in the early stages of Sonara recovery plan. In the short term, Sonara is seeking to negotiate fuel supply agreements with the Dangote refinery while also exploring the possibility of securing a loan from the group controlled by Dangote.
These talks form part of Sonara recovery blueprint known as Parras twenty four, which targets a return to refining within twenty four months. The plan is estimated to cost two hundred and ninety one point nine billion CFA francs and is designed to bring the refinery back into operation after a prolonged shutdown.
The first phase of the recovery plan is scheduled to begin in two thousand and twenty six and continue into two thousand and twenty seven. It focuses on rehabilitating facilities damaged in the two thousand and nineteen fire that forced the refinery to close. Any deeper involvement by Dangote remains dependent on progress in restructuring Sonara outstanding debts.
Sonara current debt stands at four hundred and seventy nine billion CFA francs, owed largely to banks and fuel traders. Since two thousand and twenty two, repayments have been supported through a state backed mechanism that adds a levy of forty seven point eight CFA francs on every liter of fuel sold at the pump.
While Dangote is a key figure in the talks, Sonara has also attracted interest from other potential financiers. These include the Union of Arab and French Banks, Dutch lender ING, Mauritius Commercial Bank, Cameroon National Hydrocarbons Corporation and the Ariana RCG consortium.
The Bank of Central African States has also indicated willingness to support the project through its financing window dedicated to productive investment. The regional central bank has said it could cover up to sixty percent of Sonara financing needs.
In the immediate term, Dangote most visible role could be as a strategic fuel supplier. With Sonara still offline, Cameroon depends entirely on imports to meet domestic demand. Government data shows that fuel and lubricant imports reached three hundred and thirty three point seven billion CFA francs in the first half of two thousand and twenty five, underscoring the urgency behind the talks.
