The National Anti-Corruption Commission (CONAC) announced on Thursday that it has recovered 59,951,400 CFA francs following a crackdown on the illegal sale of kerosene in and around the capital city. The operation, conducted on September 5 and 6, led to the arrest of several gas station managers. "Seven people were caught in the act of corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and violating the Ministry of Water and Energy's circular on the distribution of kerosene," said CONAC president Dieudonné Massi Gams at a press conference.
On August 11, Water and Energy Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba signed a circular setting new rules for kerosene distribution in Cameroon. The maximum amount an individual can purchase at a gas station is now limited to 10 liters, down from 100. The measure aims to curb the off-network resale of large volumes of subsidized kerosene. This fuel, intended exclusively for households, was being illegally sold to industries, bakeries, and mining and logging companies. "This practice, which is against current regulations, is highly detrimental to the population. It causes critical shortages of kerosene, often forcing most households to search multiple stations to find it," the CONAC president said.
Kerosene is sold for 350 CFA francs per liter at gas stations, a price made possible by a state subsidy. However, the fuel for businesses is purchased directly from the Cameroon Petroleum Depots Company (SCDP) for 560.19 CFA francs per liter, a much higher price. CONAC, which considers these actions to be corruption and the embezzlement of public funds, plans to intensify its inspections. The goal is to protect the most vulnerable consumers and ensure that the subsidy actually benefits households.
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