Yaounde (National Times)-The state of Cameroon has engaged arrangements for the importation of petroleum products to make up for any imbalances which the Friday May 31st fire incident at the country’s lone National Oil Refinery Corporation (SONARA) may have on the cost of living.
Prescriptions in this light are the content of a joint press briefing staged in Yaounde Sunday June 2nd by the Ministers of Communication Rene Emmanuel Sadi, Water and Energy Gaston Eloundou Essomba and Luc Magloire Atangana of Trade.
At the press outing, the ministers assured of the availability of petroleum products in the local market. The ministers disclosed that, the first ships to deliver imported petroleum products are expected in Cameroon next week Tuesday.
Trade Minister Mbarga Atangana said prices will remain at the rates known before the incident. Super petrol will remain at FCFA 630 per liter, Gasoil FCFA 575, Kerozene FCFA 350, Cooking Gas FCFA 6500 for a 12.5KG bottle. Mbarga said, control teams will be dispatched to the field to ensure that, the retail prices are not tempered with.
In the meantime, Minister Essomba said , a specialised firm will be selected to evaluate the damage caused on the production unit of SONARA. Essomba said he has asked for investigations at SONARA to establish the main cause of the incident.
The minister said, just 4 of the companies 13 units were affected following the incident. He said other structures will remain functional beginning Monday June 3rd. He however observed that, works to rebuild the affected area will take at least 12 months.
SONARA’S Board chair Bertha Ndoh said, workers of the company are expected to resume duty Monday. She said work will go on normally.
Also at the press briefing was the Directors General of the National Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilisation Fund (CSPH) Johnson Okie Ndoh, and Veronique Mopea of the Cameroon Petroleum Depot Company (SCDP).
Earlier today, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute chaired a crisis meeting in Yaounde. The conclave focused on measures to handle the shocks of the SONARA incident on the entire country.
These fast actions fall in line with orders president Biya issued Saturday requesting expedient measures from his government to ensure the incident does not affect Cameroonians negatively,
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