Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
The quiet hills of Adamawa echoed with a new promise this week as Prime Minister Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, representing President Paul Biya, laid the foundation stone of what could become one of Cameroon’s most transformative industrial ventures — the Minim-Martap Bauxite Mining Project.
For decades, the reddish earth beneath Adamawa has held untapped wealth. On this day September 24 2025, amid dancing, speeches, and a sea of hopeful faces, the Prime Minister reminded the crowd that this venture is not just about digging minerals, but about building a future.
“This project will enrich the local economy, create jobs, and allow Cameroon to transform its bauxite right here at home,” Dion Ngute declared.
“Mining is one of the pillars of our economic vision, and we are committed to ensuring that Minim-Martap delivers.”
A rich deposit with global potential
The project, spearheaded by Canyon Resources through its local subsidiary CAMALCO SA, is ranked among the world’s richest bauxite deposits, with reserves estimated at 144 million tonnes of ore containing 51.2% alumina and just 1.7% silica.
Experts say this makes it ideal for both low and high-temperature alumina refinery technologies. Its location, near the main rail line to Douala’s Atlantic port, further strengthens its export potential.
But Minim-Martap is not just about geology. Its rollout includes 45 kilometres of new road infrastructure, rail improvements, and a dedicated bauxite terminal near Dibamba on the Wouri River.
This will serve not only the mining sector but also communities and businesses long cut off from reliable transport links.
Jobs, revenue, and a promise of growth
When production begins in early 2026, officials expect output to hit 10 million tonnes annually, generating an estimated $174 million in cash flow.
The second phase will expand port capacity to handle larger vessels and increased cargo volumes. Funding worth $160 million in debt and equity has already been secured to drive the first operations.
The project’s economic promise is considerable: 5,600 jobs are expected, including 1,400 direct positions at the mine and 4,200 indirect and induced opportunities.
The state will benefit from 10% of the mineral’s value, while local communities are earmarked to receive 1% of revenue for development projects.
For the people of Adamawa, where jobs and industrial opportunities have long been scarce, the project is being embraced with optimism.
The Prime Minister, however, reminded them that sustaining this momentum requires continued loyalty to the Head of State.
“President Paul Biya still has much to offer the region and the nation at large,” he said.
As machines prepare to break ground and trains prepare to roll, the Minim-Martap project stands as both a symbol of Cameroons’ ambition and a test of its ability to turn natural riches into lasting prosperity.
