Operational Launch of Mining Activities Confirmed in Cameroon

As part of his ongoing working visit to the Ocean Division, specifically to the sites of major ongoing mining projects, Professor Fuh Calistus Gentry noted that the mining policy spearheaded by the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya, and implemented under the coordination of the Prime Minister and Head of Government, is being effectively executed on the ground.

At the Kribi-Lobé iron ore exploitation site operated by SINOSTEEL, work is actively progressing with commendable results.

In the open-pit mining area, excavation and stripping operations aimed at extracting and stockpiling iron ore are currently underway. The initial ore stockpiles are already visible on site.
A short distance away, the iron concentration and beneficiation zone stands prominently. This phase of the project will involve particle size reduction through crushers and grinders currently being installed, followed by magnetic separation to produce iron concentrate of a grade exceeding 60%. The pilot phase anticipates an initial production of 2 million tonnes of iron concentrate, gradually increasing to 4 million tonnes annually.

In terms of supporting infrastructure, several roads linking the various operational sites are now functional, alongside a residential base capable of accommodating more than 1,000 personnel.
To address the site’s energy requirements, the project stakeholders have opted to construct a 40-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the initial phase. First production and export operations are scheduled to commence by the end of 2027. In line with the Mining Convention, plans are also underway for the construction of a dedicated mineral terminal at the Kribi Port Authority.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development intends to seize this opportunity to move beyond the production of 64% iron concentrate, with the strategic objective of manufacturing fully refined 100% iron billets to supply local steel industries. This would enable domestic steel production to access more affordable raw materials, which are currently highly priced, thereby reinforcing the national import substitution policy championed by the Head of State.