Seven years after the fire that devastated Sonara, its CEO steps up to the microphone and solemnly announces to the world’s media that the company is reborn this Monday, June 29, 2026. According to the analysis of journalist Albin Njilo, one would have expected at least a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a financial partner. But no, this is a declaration made after a meeting organized by a quartet of ministers to assess the cost of reconstruction and its financing method, even before going to the market to find partners.
Here is his analysis:
The selected financing model is Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM), which ensures the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the infrastructure in question.
If seven years after the Sonara fire we are only at this stage, how long will it take to find a partner who, using typical Cameroonian methods, will sign an agreement before turning to banks to raise the money? This is already observed with mining partners, contrary to what happens elsewhere.
The shadow of SNH and Nathalie Moudiki
Looking at the timing, this announcement comes just days after the Cameroonian business community, through its president Célestin Tawamba, congratulated SNH on the new Kribi refinery under construction — a project brilliantly led by Nathalie Moudiki. Gecam’s president spoke in an international media.
The stakes of appointments are therefore green
In reality, what happened yesterday was a simple communication aimed at bluffing the President of the Republic, precisely when he is in Switzerland reevaluating the actions of those he appointed to support him and serve the people.
In its communication, Sonara includes an expression to touch Cameroonians by mentioning a hydrocracker unit that will refine Cameroonian oil. This project was already underway before the fire and is already accounted for in the Kribi refinery.
Sabotage of the Kribi refinery
“When you see whistleblowers lurking in the shadows attacking certain personalities involved in projects, think twice.
Since yesterday, Boris Bertolt has been multiplying incendiary publications against the SNH refinery project, with baseless claims aimed at tarnishing Nathalie Moudiki’s image. Why sabotage the Kribi refinery project on the very day Sonara makes its coming out? Yet at SNH, they praise the action of this historic company that is Sonara.
Speaking of Sonara’s rehabilitation, in 2020, a strong delegation from Russian giant Lukoil was received in Yaoundé to propose a reconstruction plan and installation of more modern equipment. The government did not give any favorable follow-up.
Regime insiders, favorable to imports through traders, cite sovereignty reasons to justify rejecting potential partners. Yet the largest oil refinery in Africa, located in the second-largest African oil producer, is private. The Dangote refinery does not belong to the Nigerian state, but it refines more than 60% of the oil from the country’s wells.
Why is the SNH (Gas) model not applied to Sonara (Oil)?
The large Lobito refinery in Angola is built by China, the Copperbelt refinery in Zambia is built by China. Uganda’s first oil refinery is built by the Russians, another is planned in Congo.
Cameroonians, let us pray to the Lord.
Albin Michel Njilo (Building together)
More Stories
Visa rejections in Burkina Faso follow diplomatic break with France
Niger’s endless war: a grim reality for successive regimes
Togo’s seasonal challenges underscore calls for governance reform