SONARA Fire Incident: Gov't Assures Consumers Of Constant Supply

In a joint press conference by the Minister of Communication, René Emmanuel Sadi, the Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, and the Minister of Trade, Luc Malgoire Mbarga Atangana following the unfortunate fire incident at the Cameroon's Oil Refinery Company (SONARA) on May 31, 2019, consumers of fuel and domestic gas have been reassured that prices of the aforementioned commodities will remain unchanged. Minister Sadi in his preliminary statement said the situation is a stake of common concern with the challenges being enormous.

He further stated that following the instructions of the Head of State, no effort will be spared in reviving the vital company with is a Jewry to the Cameroonian industry. The Minister appreciated the availability of partners of SONARA and their engagement to helping in building the oil refinery. The Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Gaston Eloundou Essomba said the explosion led to a fire that which consumed four out of the 13 units in the production chain of the refinery. He noted that only the production chain of the company will halt as other departments will function normally, stating that there will be a constant supply of fuel and domestic gas in the local market.

"The local market is normally furnished by SONARA and from imports every beginning of a month, a forecast of the market demand is made. Importation sets in to bridge the supply gap by SONARA," he classified. Minister Gaston recalled that last year, the refinery was shut down for 8 months within the framework of its modernization and extension plan, a situation which did not affect market supply nor the prices, but rather permitted the refinery at the end of the process to be capable of refining more crude fuel. The Minister said the Head of State...