By Neba Jerome Ambe
When the first cylinders rolled off the newly commissioned LPG filling centre in Bamenda, it marked more than the opening of an industrial facility. For households and businesses across the North West Region, it signaled a practical response to years of high transport costs, irregular supply and dependence on distant gas depots, couple with high prices.
On Friday, December 12, 2025, the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilization Fund (HPSF) officially commissioned the ultra-modern Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) filling centre at Bangshie, in Mendakwe, Bamenda I Subdivision. Administrative authorities, traditional leaders, energy sector stakeholders and residents gathered to witness what government officials described as a strategic investment aimed at improving access to affordable domestic energy in the Region and beyond.
The Bamenda facility forms part of a wider national programme to decentralise gas supply infrastructure and reduce inequalities in access to basic energy services. Until now, gas marketers in Bamenda and surrounding towns relied heavily on filling centres in Bafoussam, a situation that often resulted in shortages and higher operating costs, which were ultimately passed on to consumers.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, HPSF Director General, Okie Johnson Ndoh, said the project reflects the government’s determination to make domestic gas available, secure and affordable across all regions of the country. He stressed that access to cooking gas at a regulated price is not a luxury but a social necessity. “Gas is a basic commodity for households,” Ndoh said. “By bringing supply closer to consumers in the North West, we are reducing transport costs, strengthening supply chains and ensuring that families have reliable access to gas at the same price as elsewhere in the country.”
Built on a 6.25-hectare site, the Bamenda LPG filling centre has a storage capacity of 200 metric tonnes, made up of two tanks of 100 metric tonnes each. The fully automated installation has been designed with future growth in mind, with infrastructure already in place for two additional tanks. At the heart of the facility is a 12-station filling carousel capable of filling between 600 and 650 cylinders per hour, making it the largest LPG filling centre currently in operation in Cameroon. From Bamenda, the centre is expected to supply the North West Region and parts of the neighbouring West Region, significantly easing pressure on existing depots.
For consumers, the most immediate impact will be felt in prices and availability. With the centre now operational, the 12.5 kg domestic gas cylinder will be sold at the officially approved price of 6,500 FCFA. This price is maintained through a state consumption subsidy managed by the HPSF. Ndoh described the subsidy as a concrete expression of the Head of State’s social policy aimed at improving living standards and cushioning households against rising costs. “The North West has not been left out,” he said. “Gas is now available here at the same subsidised price enjoyed in other Regions. This is a clear message that national solidarity applies everywhere.”
Beyond affordability, authorities highlighted the environmental and health benefits associated with increased use of LPG. By encouraging households to shift away from firewood and charcoal, the project is expected to contribute to reduced deforestation and lower exposure to smoke-related illnesses, particularly among women and children.
The economic implications could be equally significant. According to the HPSF Director General, reliable and affordable energy is a catalyst for local development. He expressed hope that the filling centre would help revive economic activity in Bamenda by supporting small businesses, artisans, restaurants and other services that depend on steady energy supply. “With energy comes industrialisation, and with industrialisation comes growth,” Ndoh noted. “This facility is part of our vision for a more economically vibrant Bamenda and North West Region.”
To ensure the smooth operation of the centre, complementary public investments have been initiated. These include a 245 million FCFA electricity extension project to power the installation, as well as plans for a 4.4 billion FCFA double-lane access road, expected to feature in the 2026 state budget. In the interim, road maintenance works are underway to facilitate access for gas trucks and commercial users.
Operational management of the filling centre has been entrusted to the Cameroon Petroleum Depot Company (SCDP), the national body responsible for petroleum storage and logistics. Gabriel Eteke, Deputy General Manager of SCDP, described the Bamenda project as a milestone in Cameroon’s energy sector. “This facility is a concrete response to the growing energy needs of the North West and West Regions,” Eteke said. “It will guarantee a regular and reliable supply of domestic gas at a fair price.”
He explained that while SCDP will handle filling and logistics, licensed gas marketers will be responsible for distribution to retailers and consumers. The centre will manage the reception of LPG trucks, filling of cylinders of all sizes and the loading of bulk LPG for onward distribution.
North West Regional Governor, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, welcomed the completion of the project and commended HPSF and its partners for delivering it despite prevailing challenges. He assured the public that adequate security measures have been put in place to protect the installation, workers and users. “This achievement demonstrates that security conditions have improved and that the Region is ready to host and protect development projects,” the Governor said, while urging residents to remain vigilant and work closely with security forces. The Bamenda LPG filling centre joins existing facilities in Maroua and Bertoua, with additional centres under construction in Ebolowa and Kumba. Together, these projects reflect a national energy policy that places access to affordable energy at the centre of development and seeks to narrow regional disparities, one filling station at a time.
