Bocom Petroleum (“Bocom”) is a downstream distributor of petroleum products in Cameroon (i.e. LPG, lubricants, gasoline, diesel and kerosene). It operates its own network of 80 fuel stations throughout the country, as well as an LPG storage and cylinder filling plant, and a lubricant blending facility. Bocom owns the only private LPG coastal storage facility in Cameroon, which is essential for cooking gas distribution in the country, and necessary to promote clean cooking practices across the country. Bocom is also the only manufacturer of lubricants – through a blending process- in Cameroon (and Central Africa), which is essential to ensure the reliable supply of well-priced quality lubricants to various consumer segments in the country. Availability of quality lubricant’s ensures automobiles and machinery are efficiently run in Cameroon, with lower maintenance costs, prolongs useful lives of auto\machinery, and reduces unnecessary replacement costs.  

The Project entails the further diversification of Bocom from white products, and growth of its cleaner and higher value downstream product (LPG and Lubricants). It entails the expansion of Bocom’s LPG business through added storage and filling capacity in Douala, and establishing LPG centers across multiple provinces in the country, (which supports clean cooking across the country); and the expansion of its lubricants blending facility capacity in Douala.

The project is expected to be supported by the IDA19 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility (IDA PSW BFF) as described in the Blended Finance Section.

 IFC proposes advisory support on the following areas: (i) LPG value chain development to help Bocom develop sales and distribution models of LPG to maximize its reach in the country (towards achieving more clean cooking in Cameroonian households), and (ii) gender advisory to provide BOCOM’s leadership and HR team with the information, skills, and support to build a solid and impactful gender sustainability strategy.