Cameroon Launches Minim-Martap Bauxite Industrial Mining Project
Cameroon Launches Minim-Martap Bauxite Industrial Mining Project
Cameroon has officially launched the construction of the Minim-Martap bauxite industrial mining project in the Adamawa Region, marking a major step in the country’s strategy to harness its natural resources for economic and social development.
On behalf of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul Biya, the Prime Minister, Head of Government Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute laid the foundation stone today in La Vina Division. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development (a.i.), Prof. Fuh Calistus Gentry, along with local authorities, traditional leaders, and regional elites.
Exploration studies have confirmed reserves of around one billion tonnes of bauxite, with high alumina content (51%) and low silica (2.4%). Valued at about USD 16 billion, the project will extract and export an estimated 200 million tonnes over the next 20 years, at an annual production rate of 10 million tonnes. Additional deposits have also been identified in Makan and Ngaoundal.
Beyond extraction, the operating company CAMALCO S.A. plans to build a bauxite-to-alumina processing plant worth over USD 2 billion. This facility will process lower-grade ore into alumina, producing an estimated 213 million tonnes from 640 million tonnes of ore.
The State expects to benefit from 12% of turnover, statutory taxes, a 10% dividend on free shares, and extensive new infrastructure in road, rail, energy, and port facilities.
On the social aspect, CAMALCO is committed to build a modern hospital and school in Martap and an ultra-modern market in Minim. The project is also expected to create 5,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs, many of which will be filled by graduates of the University of Ngaoundéré’s School of Geology and Mining.
The ceremony concluded at 3 p.m.
