Cameroon has stepped up efforts to fast-track the development of a major bitumen production facility in Kribi through tax incentives, customs exemptions, and regulatory approvals aimed at reducing dependence on imported construction materials and strengthening local industrial capacity.
Between February and April 2026, authorities granted key approvals to All Bitumen Cameroon Plc, the company leading the project. These include customs exemptions for imported equipment and raw materials, along with a refining license issued by the Ministry of Water and Energy, allowing the company to legally produce bitumen domestically.
The fiscal incentives were introduced under the 2026 Finance Law, with imported production equipment fully exempt from customs duties and taxes, while raw materials benefit from reduced tariffs and VAT exemptions. Government officials describe the measures as part of a broader import-substitution strategy designed to develop a domestic bitumen industry and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
The project, which is expected to cost around CFA 161 billion, has also attracted international engineering partners from Austria, Turkey, Germany, and France to complete final design studies. Financing discussions are expected to be led by African Export-Import Bank once technical assessments are finalized.
The planned facility in the Kribi industrial-port zone will have an annual production capacity of 250,000 tons of bitumen, supplied by a 10,000-barrel-per-day mini refinery. It is expected to significantly reduce Cameroon’s estimated 70,000 tons of annual bitumen imports and cut road construction costs by up to 30%.
Officials estimate the project could generate between 300 and 400 direct jobs and up to 1,500 indirect jobs, while also improving the country’s trade balance by as much as CFA 300 billion per year. The government has also indicated plans to take at least a 15% stake in the project, reflecting its strategic importance to national infrastructure development and industrial policy.
