Filling Stations - Large Numbers, Little Weight!

Following the easing of conditions to operate an oil distribution outfit in the country some years back, many companies owned by Cameroonians have been spearheading and could have posed a threat to foreign-owned stations. But this is still far from being the case.

If only for numbers, one would have quickly concluded that the oil distribution market in the country is largely run by nationals. Statistics from the Ministry of Water and Energy Resources show that as at January 2012, 20 oil distribution companies were operating in the country. Apart from legendary ones like Total, Corlay and Oilibya, the rest of the 17 are owned by nationals. These are the likes of Algo, Alpha Oil, Bocom, Blessing, Delta Petroleum, First Oil, Socaepe, Neptune et al. In all, the 20 oil distribution companies are spread across the country in 526 filling stations.

Between January 2012 when the list was updated and today, either some operators have opened new stations in other parts of the country in their expansionist policy or starters have joined the seemingly flourishing business. Irrespective of the growing number of nationally-owned companies in the business, their weight in the sector still leaves much to desire. Out of the 526 filling stations that the country boasts of, 356 belong to the three international companies (Total with 170, Corlay with 124 and Oilibya with 62) while the 17 nationals go away with the rest of 170. To say the least, the weight of nationals in the business is barely 30 per cent. This means that all of what nationals have equals to just what a single expatriate (Total) runs in the country.

What is peculiar about nationals in the business is where they are mostly stationed. Cognisant of the place expatriates had occupied in cities, nationals are mostly occupying virgin lands especially in the fast growing new layouts in the cities as well as rural areas that had never had filling stations before. Going by the list from the Ministry of Water and Energy Resources, most nationals are going to the hinterlands like Tibati and Meiganga in the Adamawa, Degoi and Madana in the Far North, Mve, Mbon in the North West and Souza, Loum and Mbanga in the Littoral. Consumption in their areas of concentration is obviously still timid given the number of vehicles in those areas. We were unable to get statistics on the business turnover between nationals and expatriates but from every indication, their turnover can only follow their minimal weight in the whole business.