My dear friends and audience of this darling space community, today l wish to share with you an event that took place in my City of Bamenda that brought joy and happiness to a population that has suffered domestic gas scarcity and price hicks. A "Gas Filling center":
The ultramodern infrastructure was presented as a project that will create over 1000 jobs for the youth and provide domestic gas to the denizens at an affordable cost. The operation will also reduce deforestation and the effects of climate change. It should be noted that most Bamenda denizens depend on wood for fuel and the exploitation of the forest for livelihood thus causing deforestation and enhancing the effects of climate change.
° Where is Bamenda located?
✓ Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town, is a City in the Northwestern Region of Cameroon, and capital of the North West Region. The City has the population of Six hundred thousand people and is located 366km ( 227mi ) north west region of Cameroonian capital Yaounde. Bamenda is known for its cool climate and scenic hilly location.
° Launch of the Bamenda Gas Plant:
✓ The Gas Filling Plant was launched on 5, November 5, 2022. The project funded by the Hydrocarbon price stabilization Fund ( CSPH ) is located in Bangshie Bamendakwe, within the Bamenda 1 subdivision..And the plant was designed to fill 600-650 gas cylinders per hour. And the purpose of which was to ensure access to domestic gas for residents and the surrounding areas, aimed at addressing black market issues. Apart from the aforementioned, this project was also initiated and expected to create jobs for local youths and provide citizens with gas at regulated prices
° ** The inuaguration of Gas Filling center a reality:
✓ The North west region takes a new step towards it development despite the sociopolitical challenges that has held the region captive for close to eight years. Thus the commissioning of the liquefied petroleum gas ( LPG ) filling center in Bamenda is a milestone towards the development of the region.
° ** The Government Representative Inaugurates the Gas Filling center:
✓ Representing the Head of Government H E Chief/Doctor Dion Ngute, the Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba with an entourage of Government officials, governors, parliamentarians, military personnel, administrative and traditional authorities, joined the local population to Inaugurate this great project.
° Energy and Economic Revolution:
√ The Minister in his words said the population would no longer have to ensure related costs due to the transportation from Bafoussam in the the west region of Cameroon. Thus access to domestic gas would further be more affordable to the population. Indeed, the 12.5kg bottles, previously sold at 7500-8500Fcfa and even more due to logistics and other market issues will be aligned with the homologated price of 6500Fcfa. Equipped with a bottling unit and modern storage capacity, the center directly supplied by theSocieté Cameroonais Des dépôts Pétrolier* (scdp ), will ensure smooth and fair distribution.
° What employment and environmental impact:
✓ Structuring Impacts; The Minister urge and encouraged to choose LPG over firewood, highlighting it's dual benefits. which are; ecosystem preservation and reduction of health risks related to domestic pollution. And the project will also go a long way to generate 1000 direct and indirect jobs, offering opportunities to qualified young people in the region.
✓ What does this Project entails in the vision 2035?
Led by Csph this Gas Filling center is in line with vision 2035, which foresees Cameroon an emergent nation by 2035. Being the third gas station or center in the Country to be inuagurated, it embodies the policy of decentralization and territorial equity, thus shunning down the forces of marginalization. This project gives universal access to energy by all. This achievements according to the Minister stems from instructions from hierarchy as a key role of easing regional tensions.
° How is this Project a symbol of peace and prosperity?
✓ The North West Region, known for the sociopolitical challenges, this project will not only benefit the people economically but the infrastructure embodies the rebirth of a region that has been known for the challenges causes by sociopolitical crisis. This is in line with the principles of national cohesion which could illustrate the return of peace and tranquility in the near future.
✓ As a matter of fact, the Bamenda Gas Filling Center is not just a logistical tool but it's a catalyst social progress and a reservoir for energy and step towards rewriting the narrative for social reconciliation.
✓ This project goes beyond untainted economic and ecological impacts, it holds major symbolic significance for peace and social stability in a region that has witnessed untold infrastructural handicap and destruction due to sociopolitical upheavals or tensions has gripped the region
✓ The Bamenda LPG Filling Center serves as a step and glaring illustration of commitment by the government towards peace and prosperity for the North west region
✓ The government representative at the event challenged the north west population to make good use of the facility. And the general manager of (CSPH) Johnson Okiesaid there will be high quality and quantity of gas in the entire region at a homologated price of 6500Fcfa, and that will be the price for everyone in the region.
° ** The Response of Local Population**:
✓ Many people and the population of North west region has described this achievement as a great opportunity to the denizens to take full advantage and exploit all the opportunities therein.
° This event was a great success despite the heavy downpour of rain that lasted for close to three hours keeping the Minister and entourage, the administration and the local population hostage. This scenario caused the Minister to make a remark about poor nature of the earth road leading the **Bangshie Bamendakwe" where the gas Filling center is located. He indicated that the Minister of Public works would be notified for the road to be put in order for easy access to the Gas Filling center, and back to other areas in the City.
Thank you dear friends for your encouragement. Hope this story motivates and encourages somebody
Images: Source, Cameroon News Agency ( CNA) , Facebook