By drilling a hand-operated well, COTCO has transformed the daily lives of inhabitants and restored hope to the entire community.

On 6 March 2026, the village of Bandevouri, located in the Lokoundjé subdivision, witnessed a historic moment. Thanks to the hand-powered borehole drilled by the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO), the village’s 1,000 inhabitants now have access to clean drinking water. This brings an end to years of hardship and long walks to the rivers.

Amidst applause from residents, schoolchildren, and local authorities, André Belle Gorsiri, Manager of the Corporate Social Responsibility department and representative of General Manager Jean-Paul Simo Njonou, activated the pump. The first jets of water gushed forth. The emotion was clear on the faces of those present.

“We would like to say a big thank you to COTCO”, said Suzanne Biang, a villager still haunted by the memory of her brother being bitten by a snake nine years ago while collecting water from the river. Like her, many families see this borehole as much more than just infrastructure; it represents a new lease of life.

The handover ceremony was presided over by Mathieu Brice Yebga Ngos, the subdivisional officer of Lokoundjé, in the presence of traditional leaders, local residents, teachers, and pupils from the primary school Bandevouri. Hortense Yvette Menge, the deputy mayor of Lokoundjé, was handed the key to the borehole. This made the borehole the immediate property of the local council.

Located within the grounds of primary school Bandevouri, the borehole will also improve learning conditions and hygiene for pupils. ‘’We will jealously guard this gem that COTCO has given us’’, promises Agathe Lucie Ntsama, the school’s headteacher.

Built using robust, durable equipment, the borehole is maintained by the community to ensure its long-term viability. Through this initiative, COTCO reaffirms its commitment to improving the living conditions of communities living alongside the Chad-Cameroon pipeline.