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Sonara ordered to pay 42.8 billion FCFA to Sahara Energy after UK court ruling
The Cameroon National Refining Company (Sonara) has lost its final legal appeal in the United Kingdom regarding a debt owed to the Nigerian firm Sahara Energy. On June 29, 2026, the UK Supreme Court refused Sonara permission to appeal the previous ruling.
Sonara is ordered to pay approximately 42.8 billion FCFA (roughly 75 to 77 million USD) to Sahara Energy. The dispute stems from crude oil shipments delivered under a 2013 contract between 2013 and 2016. While the principal amounts were addressed, the remaining debt involves additional interest, bank financing costs, and losses resulting from exchange rate fluctuations.
The ruling places significant financial pressure on Sonara, which has struggled since a major fire in May 2019 paralyzed its refining operations in Limbé. The company currently relies on imported petroleum products to meet national demand, and the legal debt raises concerns regarding Cameroon's public finances and national energy security.
Entities
Cameroon · Limbé · Sahara Energy · Sonara · UK Supreme Court
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sonara's refining operations have been largely paralyzed since a 2019 fire. afrikactus.com · www.camer.be
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sonara must pay approximately 42.8 billion FCFA (about 75-77 million USD) to Sahara Energy. afrikactus.com · camerouninfos.com · www.camer.be
- [● 3 SOURCES] The UK Supreme Court refused Sonara permission to appeal on June 29, 2026. afrikactus.com · camerouninfos.com · www.camer.be
- [● 3 SOURCES] The dispute concerns crude oil shipments delivered between 2013 and 2016. afrikactus.com · camerouninfos.com · www.camer.be
- [● 3 SOURCES] The debt includes additional interest, exchange rate losses, and bank financing costs. afrikactus.com · camerouninfos.com · www.camer.be