Cameroon has launched construction of a new palm oil processing plant as part of its strategy to reduce imports and strengthen domestic production.
On April 8, 2026, Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe laid the foundation stone for the Opalm facility in Lengue, near Mbanga in the Moungo department. The plant represents an investment of CFA9 billion and is expected to produce 25,000 tons of palm oil annually.
Local officials say the project marks a first for the area. “We thank Opalm for choosing Lengue to host the first industrial facility in the Mbanga district,” said Mayor Henriette Endalé Edjake Mbonda, highlighting its role in local economic development.
Beyond its industrial scope, the project is positioned as a catalyst for the palm oil sector in Moungo. According to Opalm, the plant will create 340 jobs and generate around CFA5 billion annually for local growers through purchases of palm nuts.
The groundbreaking ceremony also marked the rollout of an agreement signed on December 22, 2025, between the government and Opalm. The framework is intended to strengthen support and oversight for palm oil producers.
The initiative is expected to expand to other production areas. In the Nyong-Ekellé department, Opalm plans to implement similar measures while also launching the expansion of the Socapalm plant in Eseka, which it recently acquired. That project, valued at about CFA8 billion, will increase capacity from 7,000 tons to 25,000 tons.
Opalm’s broader investment plan, backed by the government, includes building five palm oil plants across the country over the next five years. With total planned spending of around CFA45 billion, the company aims to raise domestic output by more than 100,000 tons and cut the current supply gap by about half.
The government sees the initiative as part of its import-substitution strategy, aimed at reducing reliance on foreign supply and improving the trade balance. Cameroon’s trade deficit reached CFA2,145.2 billion in 2025, up 23% year-on-year, according to the National Institute of Statistics.
Brice R. Mbodiam
