The transit fee collected by Cameroon on Chadian crude oil transported via the Chad-Cameroon pipeline reached 12.2 billion Central African CFA francs by the end of April 2026. The figure, released by the Pipeline Steering and Monitoring Committee (CPSP), represents a year-on-year increase of 1.2 billion FCFA—an 11% rise compared to the same period in 2025. This growth stems from a cumulative volume of 16.1 million barrels of Chadian crude transported across Cameroon during the review period.
Critical infrastructure for Chad‘s energy isolation
Stretching 1,080 kilometers, the pipeline connects Chad‘s southern oil fields to the Komé-Kribi export terminal on Cameroon‘s coastline. Without direct maritime access, N’Djamena relies entirely on this artery to channel its production to global markets. Commissioned in the early 2000s under a consortium led initially by ExxonMobil, the pipeline remains Chad‘s sole viable export corridor.
For Cameroon, this geographical reliance translates into steady fiscal inflows. Each barrel crossing its territory triggers a transit fee of $1.321, credited to the national treasury. While the mechanism is straightforward, its cumulative impact bolsters non-tax revenues—a crucial lifeline for Yaoundé, which is actively diversifying income sources amid a declining hydrocarbon production trend.
A threefold tariff hike over two decades
The current fee structure results from negotiations initiated in 2013. Initially set at $0.41 per barrel, the rate was deemed insufficient by Cameroon‘s authorities, who argued that environmental and logistical risks justified a higher compensation. Under pressure from Yaoundé, a five-year review cycle was established, culminating in two successive adjustments in 2013 and 2018 that pushed the fee to its present level.
In practice, the per-barrel rent has more than tripled over 15 years. This upward trend has gradually aligned Cameroon‘s transit financial terms with benchmarks in other African oil corridors, such as the BTC system in Central Asia or the neighboring Chad-Cameroon pipeline operated by COTCO. Yet the next scheduled revision remains pending.
2023 tariff review still unresolved
As per the agreed timeline, a new increase should have taken effect on October 1, 2023. More than two years later, no official statement has confirmed the conclusion of talks or the potential adjustment. The prolonged silence raises questions, especially as Cameroon‘s authorities have recently emphasized optimizing petroleum revenues.
Multiple factors may explain this deadlock. Chad‘s political transition following President Déby’s departure and N’Djamena’s budgetary constraints have narrowed the negotiating margin for Chadian officials. Meanwhile, Chad‘s oil production has fluctuated, prompting operators to advocate for tariff stability to safeguard the profitability of declining fields. Conversely, Cameroon seeks to maximize returns from an infrastructure with a finite operational lifespan.
Nonetheless, the current dynamics are proving advantageous for the state budget. If the first four months’ performance holds, annual transit revenues could exceed 35 billion FCFA in 2026. This would cement the Chad-Cameroon pipeline’s status as a strategic foreign exchange generator for Yaoundé, alongside Kribi gas and agricultural exports. No official updates have yet emerged regarding the ongoing tariff negotiations with Chad.
