Opalm invests US$30.6M in new plant and factory expansion in Cameroon

CAMEROON – Palm oil producer, Opalm, plans to build a new palm oil plant in Lengue in the Moungo department and expand a former Cameroon Palm Grove Company facility in Eséka in the Nyong-Ekelle department, in a move set to strengthen Cameroon’s palm oil sector.

The company values the two projects at about 17 billion CFA francs, about US$30.6 million. Company officials say the projects could generate more than 11 billion CFA francs, about US$19.8 million, in yearly income for palm nut producers.

“Here in Mbanga, more precisely in Lengue, we are starting today the launch of the second Opalm plant, with a capacity of 25,000 tons per year, for an amount of 9 billion CFA francs,” said Patrice Yantho, coordinator of Opalm’s investment program, during the foundation stone ceremony on April 8, 2026. He added that the project will create over 340 jobs and secure purchases of palm nuts worth more than 5 billion CFA francs, about US$9 million, each year.

Opalm has already increased its buying activity in the Moungo area. The company reports that it has collected more than 10,000 tons of palm fruit bunches since 2024 and paid over 8 billion CFA francs, about US$14.4 million, to farmers.

In Eséka, the planned expansion of the former Socapalm factory will include a new oil mill. This upgrade will raise production capacity from 7,000 tons to 25,000 tons per year. “In less than two months, we bought more than 15,000 tons of bunches from the planters for a value of more than 1.2 billion CFA francs,” Yantho said. He added that the company targets 75,000 tons each year, with purchases worth about 6 billion CFA francs, or US$10.8 million.

Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe said the investments will improve output and farmer productivity. He linked the expected gains to a December 2025 agreement between the government and Opalm that supports farmers with inputs and improved planting material. The plan aims to raise yields to about two tons of palm oil per hectare, up from 500 kilograms.

The wider program includes five processing plants over five years, backed by about 45 billion CFA francs, or US$81 million. Authorities expect the plan to add more than 100,000 tons to local supply and cut the country’s palm oil deficit by half.

“The Opalm program will bring significant added value to our agriculture,” Mbairobe said, adding that the effort supports the government’s push to reduce imports and ease the trade deficit.

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