Cameroon's state-owned electricity company, Socadel, has launched two tenders worth a combined CFA52.622 billion, including taxes, to purchase heavy fuel oil and diesel for 33 thermal power plants across the country. The planned purchases are intended to meet the plants' operating needs, with funding drawn from the company's own budget for 2026 and 2027, depending on the contract.
The two tenders, dated October 13, 2026, were published on October 19 by the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ARMP). The larger contract, estimated at CFA36.715 billion, covers the supply of HFO 3500 heavy fuel oil to the thermal power plants in Limbé, Dibamba, Oyomabang and Logbaba. It is divided into two lots. The first, valued at CFA17.384 billion, is reserved for the Limbé plant, while the second, worth CFA19.331 billion, covers the other three facilities.
The contracts provide for a combined minimum supply of 35,327 metric tons of heavy fuel oil, with an indicative maximum of 70,653 tons. Deliveries will depend on the plants' operating requirements and will be made through purchase orders issued by Socadel. The framework agreement will run for 15 months from the date the order to begin services is issued.
Four Northern Power Plants Account for Nearly 60% of Diesel Budget
The second tender, valued at CFA15.907 billion, covers the supply of LFO diesel fuel to 29 thermal power plants. Divided into seven lots, the contract provides for a minimum of approximately 8.94 million liters, with a potential maximum of 17.87 million liters depending on Socadel's needs.
The largest lot covers the Djamboutou, Guider, Kousseri and Maroua power plants. Its estimated value is CFA9.519 billion, equivalent to 59.8% of the total diesel procurement budget. The four facilities are expected to receive between 4.83 million and 9.66 million liters.
The second-largest lot, worth CFA2.109 billion, covers the plants in Banyo, Tignère, Touboro, Ngaoundéré, Garoua-Boulaï and Ngaoundal. The remaining five lots include facilities in the Centre, East, South, Northwest and Southwest regions.
The fuel procurement plan comes at a time when Socadel also intends to increase thermal generation capacity on the Northern Interconnected Grid. In a separate tender dated October 4, 2026, the company outlined plans to install an additional 10 megawatts of capacity at Djamboutou, Maroua and Ngaoundéré, at an estimated cost of CFA9.361 billion. The project aims to reduce electricity generation shortages during periods of low water levels in the Benue River basin, which supplies the Lagdo Dam.
Diesel Suppliers Must Finance Deliveries Upfront
The financial requirements imposed on prospective suppliers are another important aspect of the tenders. For the diesel contract, bidders must commit to financing the purchase, storage, transportation and delivery of fuel to the designated power plants without receiving an advance payment from Socadel. They must also demonstrate sufficient financial resources and revenue relative to the value of the lots for which they apply.
The heavy fuel oil contract carries its own financial conditions. Bidders must provide a bank certificate confirming financing capacity of at least CFA5 billion and demonstrate average annual revenue of at least CFA10 billion over their last three audited financial years. They must also have adequate storage facilities and maintain a permanent physical inventory of at least 4,000 tons of heavy fuel oil.
These requirements come in addition to obligations related to transportation, shipment traceability and fuel quality control. Both tenders will operate through framework agreements under which Socadel issues purchase orders according to its actual requirements. The combined CFA52.622 billion therefore represents an estimated procurement cost, not money the company has already spent.
Actual purchases will depend on Socadel's operating needs and the terms of the contracts ultimately awarded. The two contracts also have different timelines. The heavy fuel oil agreement will run for 15 months and draw on the company's 2026 and 2027 budgets, while the diesel contract must be completed within four months using funds allocated for 2026.
Interested suppliers have until November 3, 2026, to submit their bids. The deadline is 1 p.m. for the diesel tender and 2 p.m. for the heavy fuel oil tender.
Amina Malloum