Petroleum Supply Chain in Cameroon: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The petroleum supply chain (PSC) is a sequence of activities that source, transform and deliver petroleum products to end consumers. Understanding the internal drivers of petroleum supply chain disruptions could provide a clue to finding lasting solution to the perennial incidence of petroleum product shortages and exorbitant prices of petroleum products in Cameroon. This paper takes a study of the fundamental principles that shapes petroleum supply chain in Cameroon. This study takes another look at petroleum supply chain risks in Cameroon’s oil industries by identifying the drivers of risks that affects the petroleum supply chain and determining mitigation strategies. In order to achieve these objectives of the study and to address the problems, data was collected through the exploitation of secondary and primary sources of information. The methods utilised to collect secondary data were books, academic journals, magazines, oil companies’ reports and official government publications. To compliment secondary data, primary data was also used and this was done essentially through interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaires. In the treatment of the data, the methodology utilised by the researcher was the thematic content approach. Results shows that in as much as Cameroon is considered as the most mineralised nation in the sub- Saharan Africa, there still exists shortages of petroleum products in the country and high prices in relation to the petroleum products. Six drivers were identified as a cause of this and in that respect the paper recommends the building of new oil refineries, construction of other oil depot units in the country as well as ensuring efficient management in petroleum products as strategies to mitigate against disruptions or risks in the petroleum supply chain in Cameroon.