The procedure to be followed for the opening of a service station in Cameroon is defined by Decree No. 2000/935/PM of 13 November 2000 to Lay Down Conditions for Operating Downstream Petroleum Sector Activities and its subsequent amendments, notably Decree No. 2008/26/PM of 22 January 2008 Amending and Supplementing the Provisions of Articles 3, 17 and 29 of Decree No. 2000/935/PM mentioned above.
The activities are subject to prior authorisation and are carried out under State control; the authorisation is granted by order of the Minister in charge of petroleum products, following the approval of the National Commission for Petroleum Products.
The authorisation is strictly individual and cannot be assigned, transferred or leased. It may be suspended or withdrawn for any violation of the conditions laid down, in accordance with the established rules. Unless otherwise provided for in specific agreements, the authorisation is valid for a period of 15 years renewable for other activities in the downstream petroleum sector.
As concerns the distribution of petroleum products, four (4) types of authorisations have been introduced, namely:
– The exclusive distribution of domestic gas (LPG);
– The sale of marine bunkers;
– The sale of aviation bunkers and;
– The distribution of all petroleum products excluding the sale of bunkers.
GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR OPERATION
Any applicant willing to carry out any of the activities in the downstream petroleum sector must meet the following conditions:
- Be a natural or legal person under Cameroonian law;
- Have its headquarters in Cameroon;
- Show proof of non-bankruptcy;
- According to its level of activity, provide a guarantee deposit to meet its commitments to the State, the amount of which is fixed by joint order of the Ministers in charge of petroleum products, trade and finance respectively;
- Have a minimum academic level of GCE A level+ 3 and a minimum professional experience of five (5) years in a management position in the downstream petroleum sector, either as a manager or as a technical manager;
- Present an investment programme that should contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the national energy policy during the duration of the authorisation.
The Minister in charge of petroleum products must be notified of any change of technical manager within thirty (30) days.
Access to petroleum products by any distributor accredited for all petroleum products (D1 accreditation) is dependent on the establishment of its first service station and the subscription to a civil liability insurance policy so as to cover the risk relating to the activities to be conducted.
Any applicant requesting an authorisation to carry out the activity of distributing petroleum products must present a programme to set up within five (5) years a minimum of:
– Five (5) liquefied petroleum gas distribution plants with a minimum capacity of five hundred (500) bottles of 12.5kg of gas each, for operators applying for an authorisation to carry out liquefied petroleum gas distribution activities. In this specific case, it is expected that at least 20% of these investments will be made outside the division capitals, in one of the three northern provinces of the country.
– Five (5) service stations for operators applying for an authorisation to engage in the distribution of all petroleum products;
– Maritime and airport facilities with a storage capacity of 500m3 for applicants seeking an authorisation to carry out maritime or aircraft bunker sales activities.
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