(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon’s state-owned water utility Camwater is moving into the bottled water business. On April 30, its Director General Blaise Moussa launched an international call for expressions of interest to prequalify companies that can build ultrafiltration and bottling lines for the new product.
The project targets five cities—Douala, Yaoundé, Bafoussam, Limbé, and Maroua. Bidders must specify the site or sites they are interested in and submit their applications by May 30, 2025.
To qualify, companies must prove they have solid experience in setting up complete bottled water production units. They also need to show they have access to a supply chain for key components and demonstrate financial capacity of at least CFA2 billion.
The scope of work includes market research, architectural and technical design, as well as the supply, installation, and commissioning of full bottling lines. These lines will produce bottles in 10-liter, 1.5-liter (packs of 6), and 0.5-liter (packs of 12) formats.
The construction timeline is set at 24 months. Funding could come from the state, Camwater’s own resources, or public-private partnerships, depending on the size of each site and the profile of the selected partners.
Camwater’s entry into the bottled water market is expected to shake up an industry long dominated by Source du Pays, a Lebanese-owned company that holds 58% of the market. It is followed by SEMC, a subsidiary of France’s Castel Group.
By entering the sector, Camwater aims to expand consumer choice and offer competitive quality-to-price options. According to Blaise Moussa, the move also opens up new revenue streams for the utility. The initiative aligns with the company’s Development Plan and its 2023–2030 Priority Investment Program.
Still, Moussa stressed that bottled water is only an additional product. Camwater’s main mission remains providing clean drinking water through the public distribution network.
Frédéric Nonos
