YAOUNDE, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon will continue to supply oil and fuel nationally and internationally after an explosion a week ago hit the country's lone refinery, the National Oil Refinery (SONARA), causing production suspension, Cameroon's Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana said on Friday.
"In spite of what happened, the government will continue to subsidize fuel pump price in order to keep consumer prices stable. This will happen in spite of price fluctuations on the international market, where Cameroon gets crude oil for SONARA. So Cameroonian citizens and international partners do not need to panic or worry," Atangana told reporters.
On Thursday, a high level government delegation led by Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, visited the refinery in the coastal town of Limbe, in Cameroon's Southwest region to assess the damage caused by the explosion.
"The fire impacted mainly the company's refining units consuming 13 of them and consequently activities needed to be suspended. We estimate that it will take 10 months to rehabilitate the refining chain. Market supply will now rely on import and first tankers are expected next week," Essomba said.
The cause of the explosion that hit the refinery on May 31 is not yet known.
