• Cameroon launched a new licensing round for nine oil and gas blocks in August 2025 across the Douala-Kribi-Campo and Rio del Rey basins.
• The government published a full schedule, technical data, and bid criteria to ensure transparency and attract investors.
• Despite a projected 13% decline in hydrocarbon revenues in 2025, gas output is expected to rise by 23% to 852.2 million cubic meters.

Cameroon is stepping up transparency measures in its oil and gas sector as it seeks to rebuild investor confidence amid declining production and shrinking public revenues.

Like several African hydrocarbon producers facing the maturity of key fields, Cameroon has launched a new round of exploration licenses covering nine blocks in the Douala-Kribi-Campo and Rio del Rey basins, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) said on October 13.

The government released the official schedule, eligibility criteria, and technical data for the new licensing cycle. Authorities also opened data rooms in Yaoundé and London to enable potential investors to review geological and commercial information.

These measures, according to industry observers, aim to ensure a transparent and competitive bidding process. The call for offers will run until March 30, 2026, with awards expected on April 24, 2026. Transparency, officials said, remains essential to restoring trust among international oil and gas investors.

Since 2023, Cameroon’s state-owned oil company Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH) has increased the frequency of its “Key Data” publications. These periodic reports detail national output, industrial deliveries, and domestic consumption, and are now publicly available on the company’s website.

According to the latest figures, Cameroon produced 852.2 million cubic meters of natural gas as of April 30, 2025. Analysts view this disclosure effort as a significant step toward improving sector visibility and strengthening investor confidence.

The government forecasts a 13% drop in oil and gas revenues in 2025, reflecting the natural decline of mature fields. However, gas production is expected to grow by about 23%, partly offsetting the decline in crude output.

This article was initially published in French by Abdel-Latif Bouraima 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum