Days after the Bangshie LPG plant went operational amid public fanfare, households say gas is still selling far above the official price across major neighbourhoods in the city of Bamenda.
Barely weeks after the commissioning of the long awaited Liquefied Petroleum Gas storage and refilling plant in Bamenda, consumers say the promise of cheaper gas has yet to reflect on the ground, with prices still hovering between FCFA 9,000 and 10,000 for a 12.5 kilogram cylinder.
Picture of Bamenda by Akem Nkwain Journalist
Across key neighbourhoods in the city, the situation appears unchanged despite assurances from authorities that domestic gas would sell at the government approved price of FCFA 6,500 following the opening of the Bangshie facility.At Mile Nkwen, Emelia Lem, a mother of four, said she was disappointed after queueing to buy gas only to be confronted with the same prices as before.
“We heard on the radio that gas would come down immediately the plant started working. I bought my cylinder today at FCFA 9,500. For us, nothing has changed,” she said.
Similar concerns were raised at St Paul’s Junction, where Alhaji, a trader, said retailers continue to blame supply arrangements and transportation.
“They told us the plant is new and gas has not yet reached them properly. I paid FCFA 10,000 because I had no choice. Cooking without gas is not an option for my business,” he said.
At Mile Two Nkwen, Viyuf Juliette echoed the same frustration, questioning the gap between official communication and market reality.
“They announced FCFA 6,500, but we are still buying at almost FCFA 9,000. The plant may be working, but ordinary people are not feeling the relief yet,” she noted.
The Bamenda LPG plant which produced gas for the first time December 12, 2025 at Bangshie in Bamenda I Sub-Division, was presented as a major solution to chronic gas shortages and high prices in the North West Region. With a storage capacity of 200 metric tonnes and the ability to refill up to 650 cylinders per hour, authorities said the facility would stabilise supply and eliminate speculative pricing by middlemen.
At the inauguration ceremony, officials of the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilisation Fund and CSPH assured consumers that refilling at the plant would be done strictly at the regulated price of FCFA 6,500 per cylinder, a move expected to ease pressure on household budgets and small businesses.
However, consumers argue that the benefits are yet to trickle down to neighbourhood retail points, where most households buy their gas. Many retailers say they are still operating with old stock purchased at higher prices, while others point to distribution bottlenecks in the early days of the plant’s operation.
For now, the noise around the commissioning of the Bamenda gas plant contrasts sharply with the reality in kitchens across the city. Residents say they are watching closely, hopeful that the promised price drop will materialise in the coming weeks, turning official assurances into tangible relief for families already strained by the high cost of living.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoives Online
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