RESTRUCTURING OF CAMEROON’S SEMI-MECHANIZED ARTISANAL MINING SECTOR

In Betaré Oya as well as in Zembe Borongo, the joint MINMIDT, SONAMINES, SNPPK, and SED mission proceeded with the seizure of equipment found on the sites, the dismantling of production units, the destruction of installed electrical facilities, and the formal requirement for all operators present to vacate the sites.

These concrete actions on the ground reaffirm the government’s firm determination to put an end to illegal gold mining in the country. Prof. FUH CALISTUS GENTRY was unequivocal in his remarks: semi-mechanized artisanal mining cannot be carried out under an exploration permit.

As part of this initial phase of the crackdown targeting illegal gold miners in the East Region, the delegation visited the Climat Doubaï and Bozen Mining sites in Betaré-Oya, as well as Shen-xin and Galaxy Mining in Zembe Borongo.

Beyond the immediate order to clear the sites, the Minister reiterated that a designated area of more than 3,000 km² has been set aside for semi-mechanized gold mining and remains open to any compliant operator. He also restated four strict requirements to be met:

– compliance with environmental obligations, including the payment of a bond of CFAF 63 million for 21 hectares and certification of environmental compliance;

– compliance with tax obligations, namely 25% as the final discharge mining tax; 5% representing the export tax; and 1.5% for the mining policy implementation fund;

– commitment to a minimum production threshold, determined according to the number of pans recorded by the competent authorities, with a minimum of 5 kg of gold per month;

– technological innovation, with the obligation to migrate to a closed-circuit gold processing system within a period of six (06) months. This system was presented to them on each occasion.