Opalm has announced the launch of construction works for a palm oil production plant in the Nyong-Ekelle department of Cameroon’s Center region, scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. The facility, expected to be delivered by the third quarter of 2027 at the latest, will be the first in a series of five plants the company has committed to build in Cameroon’s palm oil producing areas over a five-year period.
The total investment is estimated at CFA45 billion and is expected to create 450 direct jobs and about 1,200 indirect jobs.
The project was officially unveiled on December 22, 2025, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Yaoundé during a ceremony to sign the legal agreements governing the investment. These include two investment conventions: one between Opalm and the government, represented by the ministers of Agriculture, Trade, and Industry, and another between Opalm and the Investment Promotion Agency, allowing the project to benefit from incentives provided under Cameroon’s private investment promotion law. Opalm and the Ministry of Agriculture also signed specifications outlining cooperation to improve support for palm fruit producers.
According to Opalm Chief Executive Officer Tarek Daoud, the agro-industrial project has two main objectives: supporting the government’s efforts to better structure and plan rural development, and increasing national palm oil production. He said Cameroon’s current palm oil deficit stands at about 300,000 tons, and that Opalm’s program aims to add 108,000 tons to the supply available to local industries, representing a reduction of the deficit of around 50%.
Import substitution
Due to insufficient palm oil supply, processing industries such as refined oil producers and soap manufacturers typically operate at only 40% to 50% of installed capacity. Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe said Cameroon currently has about 1.2 million tons of oilseed refining capacity, which could be more fully utilized once additional palm oil becomes available.
Beyond boosting processing activity, the Opalm project supports Cameroon’s import-substitution policy, which seeks to increase local production in order to reduce imports and, by extension, the trade deficit.
According to the agriculture minister, palm oil imports are estimated at around CFA100 billion per year, making the product one of the largest contributors to Cameroon’s trade imbalance. He said the Opalm project is expected to help partially rebalance the country’s trade position.
Brice R. Mbodiam
