YAOUNDE, CAMEROON, AFRICA. NOVEMBER 2010 (NEWS.CAMEROON-TODAY.COM) – CAMEROON NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: PM Philemon Yang ANNOUNCES TAKE OFF OF MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BY GDF SUEZ IN CAMEROON.

The Prime Minister Head of Government, Philemon Yang was first to take questions from Members of Parliament during the ongoing November session.

The questions focused on the government’s development strategy and the implementation of the greater ambitions programme.

Hon. Forbin Tchinda of the Social Democratic Front, SDF party asked the PM why gas from Bakassi is liquefied in Kribi and not in Limbe which is closer to Bakassi.

The Prime Minister told the assembly that certain criteria must be met for an industry to be constructed amongst which is the environmental factor.

Cameroon GDF Suez projected to produce 3.5 million ton of LNG. Here is Gerard Mestrallet, CEO of GDF Suez France

He also point to the fact that the transportation of natural gas requires more care than other resources like oil.

The Kribi natural gas plant, the PM added shall be carried out by Suez Gaz de France.

Regarding the project, the Head of government said feasibility studies have already been concluded and the project is expected to take off in 2011.

The MPs also wondered why most of President Paul Biya’s greater ambitions schemes are limited only to a few regions; South, Centre and East Regions?

The Head of Government refuted the claims stating that several major projects have been envisaged for 2011 in other regions.

Some of these projects include the Kribi deep sea port, the Lom Pangar, Memve’ele and Mekin dams, a second bridge over river Wouri, and the construction of two stadia in Bafoussam and Limbe.

These projects fall within the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP) initiated to make Cameroon an emerging economy by 2035.

The Head of Government expressed optimism that Cameroon’s investment budget shall witness a gradual increase to meet the target.

Recall that  in December 2009, preliminary studies concluded that the optimal solution to export Liquefied Natural Gas from Cameroon is an onshore production plant located in the area of Kribi and fed by a national gas-aggregation network connecting known gas resources.

The project includes gas gathering pipelines and an onshore LNG plant with a production capacity of up to 3.5 million tons per annum, to be located in the area of Kribi on the Southern Coastline of Cameroon.

GDF SUEZ and SNH (Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures) managed the study.

On that occasion, Mr Jean-François Cirelli, Vice Chairman and President of GDF SUEZ, and Mr Jean-Marie Dauger, Executive Vice President of GDF SUEZ in charge of Global Gas & Liquefied Natural Gas officially inaugurated a new office in Yaoundé, in the presence of Mr Adolphe Moudiki, Executive General Manager of Societe Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH).

Mr Adolphe Moudiki said at the time, “The joint tender for Pre-FEED engineering studies is an important step in the implementation of the National Gas Master Plan through this challenging multi-year LNG project. The Republic of Cameroon looks forward to capturing the long-term economic and financial benefits of the valorisation of its natural gas resources. This development is supported by all upstream operators, and, with GDF SUEZ, we are committed to developing this project in a manner that will allow all upstream players to capture significant value in accessing the LNG export facility”.

“New gas sources from West Africa are particularly strategic for the development of the LNG market and for GDF SUEZ. GDF SUEZ is confident in the long-term perspectives of the LNG market and looks forward to expanding its presence in LNG production to strengthen the diversification and the security of supply of the Group’s LNG portfolio. GDF SUEZ also believes that integrated Exploration and Production LNG projects, such as its Australian Bonaparte LNG project, are strategic for the development of LNG activities. This is why GDF SUEZ is looking forward to fully contribute to the development of the Cameroonian project”, explained Mr Jean-François Cirelli.

SNH and GDF SUEZ De France are expected to work closely with the exploration and production players active in the country, the city of Kribi and other stakeholders to bring this project to fruition in 2011.