Kumba: Cooking gas plant envisaged to reduce scarcity upon completion in 2 years
By Nchendzengang Tatah
Cooking gas scarcity in the South West may be a story of the past in two years from April 19, 2025, says the Minister of Commerce, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana. He informed inhabitants of the region as he laid the foundation stone for an ultra-modern Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Centre in Kumba, Meme Division
The member of government who was representing the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, at the event on the site to host the project in Kang-Barombi, said President Paul Biya had heard the cries of the people. He assured that the project, which is initiated and sponsored by the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilisation Fund (HPSF) -otherwise known by its French acronym CSPH- will be realized in two years.
“Suffer don finish” ( suffering is over)
The Minister of Commerce, who doubles as board chair of HPSF, emphasized that the project is a testament to Paul Biya’s determination to promote development in all parts of Cameroon. He established that the project, when realized, would make the South West no longer rely on gas from Douala, several hundred kilometres away from Kumba. Minister Mbarga admitted that this had caused a shortage of cooking gas. Such, he noted, was near its end. He remarked, in pidgin English, “From today, suffer don finish”, meaning that suffering has come to an end for households.
Minister Mbarga told participants that the priority of recruitment at the centre will be for sons and daughters of the area. By this, he charged the population with the mandate to ensure the site was protected from attack or destruction. For it was in their own best interest if they accompanied the project.
Project Overview
The ultra-modern Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Centre in Kumba will be constructed to the tune of 7.49 billion, consisting of 6 billion for the project proper and close to 700 million for management and other services.
The project is divided into two phases – the operational part made up of; two domestic gas storage tanks with a capacity of 100 cubic metres each and the possibility of extension, one truck unloading station and a weighing bridge, one filling and storage hall, two-way bridges, one complete fire fighting network, one hydraulic network, one complete compress air network, one administrative block, and one maintenance block. The second part of the project is the social component, which will feature a residence for the main staff, a clinic, a cafeteria, a playground, and a parking space attached to it.
