Energy, petroleum communicators chart ways to ameliorate access to information.

The event, held at the headquarters of the Cameroon Petroleum Depot Company, SCDP, in Douala, brought together communication experts, journalists, managers of petroleum companies and public officials.

Organised under the theme: “How to improve public and media access to information in the petroleum sector”, the meeting primarily focused on the importance of transparency, responsible journalism and stronger collaboration between the media and actors in the hydrocarbons industry.

Opening the ceremony, organisers recalled that World Press Freedom Day is not only a celebration of media freedom but also a reminder of citizens’ right to reliable, balanced and accessible information.

They noted that the energy sector has become increasingly strategic amid global geopolitical tensions, fluctuations in petroleum prices and growing concerns over energy security.

Speaking during the event, the President of the Network of Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons Communicators, Joseph Emmanuel Ba'ana, said the initiative aimed at strengthening journalists’ understanding of the energy sector to improve the quality of media reporting.

“We are convinced that to better understand is to better inform,” he said, adding that the meeting also sought to facilitate access to technical and institutional information while promoting professional and balanced media coverage of petroleum sectors' activities.

Ba’ana added that the network plans to organise guided press visits to petroleum installations and partner companies in Douala to enable journalists gain practical knowledge of the sector.

The Deputy General Manager in charge of Human Resources and Administration at SCDP, HRM Eteki Ebokolo Gabriel, hailed the initiative.

Chief Ebokolo said encounters between journalists and enterprises are essential, particularly in the hydrocarbons sector where communication is often perceived as limited.

“It is always important that media professionals meet enterprises, especially in the hydrocarbons sector where communication may sometimes appear non-existent whereas it actually exists,” he stated.

He stressed that both companies and journalists have responsibilities in ensuring accurate and professional communication to the public.

Chief Ebokolo used the occasion to present the company’s role in petroleum storage and distribution as well as ongoing investments aimed at improving Cameroon’s energy security.

He highlighted projects intended to increase storage capacities, modernise infrastructure and strengthen safety systems within the petroleum supply chain.

Communication expert, Tchomdou Jean Paul, noted that communication in the petroleum sector remains highly sensitive due to environmental risks, safety concerns and strategic business interests.

According to him, companies must balance transparency with the protection of strategic information while maintaining public trust.

“The communication function gives meaning to a company’s strategy. Petroleum companies evolve in a complex ecosystem where communication must take into account communities, public authorities, the media and consumers,” he explained.

He further underscored the need for permanent and trust-based relationships between journalists and communication managers rather than interactions limited only to moments of crisis or when the Journalists need to obtain a scope. 

Jean Paul equally warned that poor crisis communication could worsen situations and damage institutional credibility.

Speaking after the discussions, Ba’ana expressed satisfaction with the quality of exchanges, noting that both journalists and managers of the energy sector gained a better understanding of each other’s professional realities.

He expressed hope that the initiative would lead to stronger collaboration, improved transparency and better public understanding of issues related to Cameroon’s petroleum industry.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3781 of Wednesday May 06, 2026