Cameroon Water Utilities (Camwater) has announced the companies pre-qualified to construct ultrafiltration and bottled water production lines. In a statement released July 11, 2025, Camwater Director General Blaise Moussa revealed that seven companies were selected after reviewing bids from an international call for expressions of interest issued April 30, 2025.
The selected companies are Batratel, Jiangsu Mesure Machinery Co Ltd, Trbex Impex PVT Ltd, Sipa SpA, Loumos Group LLC, the Zhangjiagang BaijiMachinery/Light Logistics Services consortium, and Beier Machinery. These companies and groups, ranked by merit, scored between 75 and 92 out of 100 based on the evaluation criteria. Camwater's statement emphasized that only these companies are qualified for the subsequent restricted international tender.
Camwater, the public water utility in Cameroon, plans to build five ultrafiltration and bottled water units in Douala, Yaoundé, Bafoussam, Limbé, and Maroua. The pre-qualified companies will be responsible for a market study, architectural and technical design, and the supply, installation, and commissioning of complete bottling lines for 10-liter, 1.5-liter (packs of six bottles), and 0.5-liter (packs of 12 bottles) formats.
Market Dominated by Private Players
The project is scheduled for completion within 24 months. Official sources indicate financing will come from the state, Camwater, or through public-private partnerships, depending on the unit size and partner profiles. Camwater's entry into the bottled water market is expected to intensify competition in a sector currently dominated by the Lebanese-owned Source du Pays. Source du Pays has controlled the local market for nearly a decade with a 58% share, ahead of Société des Eaux Minérales du Cameroun (SEMC), a subsidiary of the French group Castel.
According to Camwater's Director General, this initiative is part of the company’s Development Plan and its 2023–2030 Five-Year Priority Investment Program, aiming to explore new revenue streams. Blaise Moussa clarified that Camwater’s primary product remains tap-distributed drinking water. Bottled water, as a new product, will be supplementary and not a substitute, especially given the poor access to the public water network in Cameroon.
Enduring Thirst for Clean Water
A 2021 national survey by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) found that only 29% of Cameroonian households have access to the public water distribution network. Camwater itself admits to losing 53% of its production due to leaks and unauthorized connections.
Given this reality, alternative water sources remain prevalent. The same data show that 40% of households primarily rely on boreholes and pump wells. Protected wells account for 17%, followed by unprotected wells at 14%, and protected springs at 10%. The latter two pose significant health risks.
To broaden access to drinking water, Cameroon set ambitious targets in its Vision 2025 plan, aiming for a 75% access rate to clean water. Although this goal was not met, the country has increased its ambitions under the 2020–2030 National Development Strategy (SND30). This strategic document now calls for universal access in urban areas (100%) and 85% coverage in rural zones by 2030.
Brice R. Mbodiam