CI-NEWS

SONARA Fire incident.

2019-06-11

No: 431

SONARA Fire incident:

Inter-ministerial team boosts personnel’s morale (Photo of Gaston Eloundou Essomba)

A delegation of Government Ministers headed by the Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, was in Limbe 6 May, 2019, where they visited the SONARA disaster zone, met the entire personnel of the refinery and also encountered the population of the environs of SONARA. The Delegation included the Minister of Mines and Technological Development, Director of Cabinet at the PM’s office, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, National Security, SONARA Board Chair, South West Governor and a host of other dignitaries.

Addressing the population in the FINI Hotel hall, Minister Eloundou Essomba assured them of the Head of State's support as well as that of his entire Government to the people of Limbe following the fire incident that gulped part of SONARA's plant last 31 May, 2019. He said the incident had saddened the Cameroonian people as a whole. He, however, rejoiced that there was no loss of life.

The Minister recalled that the inter-ministerial mission had as objective to visually assess on the field the scope of the damage sustained as a result of the fire incident and also assess the impact on the neighbouring population. He explained that it was also to convey Government comfort to Fako Division as a whole and to Limbe in particular for the incident that saddened them. Minister Eloundou Essomba assured that assistance would be provided by Government to those who might be affected by the incident. The minister promised that the Cameroon market would continue to be supplied with quality fuel and to be protected from all sorts of speculation in the fuel market. “While waiting for a detailed assessment report about the incident, SONARA will be rehabilitated”, Minister Eloundou Essomba assured. He noted that the on-going extension, rehabilitation and modernization would continue in the refinery that is considered as Cameroon's industrial flagship. The minister announced additional security measures to protect SONARA personnel, the population of its environs and their property.

Meanwhile, the Ministerial delegation met with the 750-man staff of SONARA in the conference hall and assured them of Government plans to rehabilitate the company. The Minister praised SONARA staff for their courage and determination to conquer the inferno. He thanked the Ministry of Defense, SCDP, COTCO, ASECNA, and all those who had their hands on deck to ensure the fire was put out. “SONARA will not close its doors”, Minister Eloundou Essomba declared. He added “the personnel of SONARA would not be redundant. Although because the central unit of SONARA which is the distillation unit is touched it means that activities would be stopped for a while but SONARA in its diversification of activities will continue to live. For example, their laboratory shall more than ever before be put to profit so that fuel products sold in the Cameroonian market respond to required specifications. SONARA has a leading laboratory that analyses all sorts of fuel products to certify quality.

Culled from Cameroon Tribune.

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SONARA Fire incident.