(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroonian oil group Tradex announced on November 9, 2025, the official resumption of its activities in Equatorial Guinea after the suspension order imposed on its local subsidiary, Tradex GE, was lifted. The subsidiary had been barred from operating since October 23.
The decision ends a nearly two-week interruption following an administrative ban issued by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mining Development, which stemmed from an inspection conducted on October 22.
An internal source indicated that the suspension was triggered by “non-compliance in the administrative documents required for the activity, covering regulatory, fiscal, and environmental aspects.” The group, faced with the unexpected measure, immediately filed an appeal with the supervisory minister and committed to rectifying the identified shortcomings.
Tradex has since initiated several compliance projects to align its operations with local requirements. Although the exact financial damage has not yet been quantified, the company acknowledged that “all these days without selling a single liter of fuel will certainly have a noticeable impact on our performance at the end of December 2025,” according to a source within the subsidiary.
Management Reorganization
Concurrently, the board of directors of Tradex Equatorial Guinea S.A. (Tradex GE S.A.) held an extraordinary session on November 7 in Douala, chaired by Emmanuel Patrick Mvondo. The session resulted in the appointment of Alain Francis Ngondi Owona as interim General Manager, replacing Georges Bassalang Bolembe. This decision is aimed at injecting a new dynamic into the subsidiary, especially as regulatory compliance and institutional stability become crucial issues for the group’s regional expansion.
The lifting of the suspension and the resumption of activities underscore Tradex’s determination to ensure the longevity of its operations in Equatorial Guinea and strengthen its position in the subregion, particularly in the distribution and storage of petroleum products. Present in several Central African countries, the Cameroonian firm thus confirms its ambition to remain a strategic player in the subregional energy market while consolidating its reputation as a reliable partner to local authorities.
Amina Malloum
