Tradex, a subsidiary of Cameroon’s National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH), will enter the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in early 2025. The Cameroonian Philippe Attang was appointed on November 26, 2024, to head the new subsidiary, Tradex’s fifth after Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea.

Attang, 47, is a marketing graduate, who joined Tradex 15 years ago, after working at Total (now TotalEnergies for three years. From 2021 until his recent appointment, the Cameroonian was Deputy Sales Director of Tradex Cameroon. Between 2021 and 2024, Tradex Cameroon generated CFA311 billion in sales, at an average growth rate of 6% per annum. 

According to Igor Bissaya, chairman of Tradex’s Board of Directors in DR Congo, by launching a subsidiary in this county, Tradex "keeps taking major steps to reinforce its strategic position in Africa’s petroleum industry". Bissaya was also appointed board director on November 26. 

Goals, Opportunities, and Challenges 

Tradex aims to capitalize on the DRC's estimated $1 billion fuel marketing market, alongside an additional $600 to $700 million in petroleum products imported by mining operators. The company plans to establish a comprehensive distribution network for petroleum products, including domestic gas and aircraft fueling services.

In the Congolese market, SNH’s subsidiary will compete against established firms such as Engen Petroleum, TotalEnergies, and Cobil. 

Tradex DRC unveiled its ambition to operate "across most of the value chain in the downstream oil sector". It will supply petroleum products, including domestic gas, and provide fuel for planes and ships, among others.

Tradex has allocated a share capital of CFA2.5 billion (around $40 million) to its new subsidiary. Regardless of this support, the country’s large size and inadequate transport infrastructure are some major challenges the company will face in the DRC. 

However, the company could leverage some opportunities to grow rapidly. For example, Bankable has learned that a major player in the market is reportedly willing to sell assets that include substantial storage capacities and tankers.

Tradex was established in 1999 by Cameroon’s oil and gas company, the SNH.

This article was initially published in French, by Aboudi Ottou

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho