Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
Cameroon’s long-promised mining transformation is beginning to take concrete shape, with several large-scale projects moving from planning to production.
At the center of this shift is Interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Professor Fuh Calistus Gentry, whose tenure coincides with renewed momentum in industrial mining, infrastructure development, and sector reform.
From iron ore and bauxite to gold, recent government-backed initiatives suggest the country is edging closer to converting its mineral wealth into measurable economic output.
Major Mining Projects Signal Shift From Potential to Production
In 2025, Cameroon recorded notable progress on projects widely considered critical to its industrial mining ambitions. Two iron ore projects in the South Region were officially launched by the Prime Minister, marking a significant policy-to-production transition.
Bipindi–Grand Zambi Iron Ore Project
During a working visit in April 2025, the Minister confirmed that mining operations had effectively begun. About 600,000 tonnes of iron ore are already stockpiled, with projections reaching 7 million tonnes ahead of processing. Two processing plants are under construction, targeting the production of export-grade iron concentrate.
Kribi–Lobe Mineral Terminal
The laying of the foundation stone for this terminal introduces a long-missing link in Cameroon’s mining value chain—dedicated export infrastructure to support bulk mineral shipments.
Minim–Martap Bauxite Project
Positioned as Cameroon’s first large-scale bauxite mine, the project is advancing toward its first shipment, expected in mid-2026. The mining convention for the high-grade deposit has been signed, with government backing classifying it as a strategic national project.
Addressing Informality and Weak Oversight
Beyond flagship projects, the ministry is confronting structural challenges that have long undermined the sector. A 2025 sectoral assessment revealed persistent gaps, including outdated geological data, limited mapping resources, and weak traceability—factors that have historically fueled informality and revenue losses.
Reforms under implementation focus on legal clarity, state oversight, and institutional capacity.
New Mining Code Comes Into Effect
Adopted in December 2023, the revised mining code strengthens regulation, introduces mandatory state participation in mining ventures, and grants the National Mining Company (SONAMINES) exclusive authority to buy and market gold and diamonds.
In 2023, SONAMINES transferred 170.9 kg of gold to the state, generating about 5 billion CFA francs in public revenue. By 2024, officially collected gold reportedly rose to 640 kg, reflecting improved formalization rather than increased production alone.
Local Processing Infrastructure
Plans are underway for Cameroon’s first enclosed gold processing unit in Ketté, alongside a proposed national gold refinery aimed at meeting international export standards.
According to mandates from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry’s role extends beyond extraction to include resource valorization, industrialization, and technological development—objectives aligned with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy (NDS30).
Professor Gentry’s role has largely been technocratic, focused on implementation, coordination, and execution of presidential directives to reposition mining as a credible contributor to national growth.
Snapshot: Key Mining Projects in Progress
Bipindi–Grand Zambi (Iron Ore)
Status: Active mining and stockpiling
Reserve: ~150 million tonnes
Significance: First large-scale iron ore export project
Minim–Martap (Bauxite)
Status: Development phase
Outlook: First shipment expected mid-2026
Significance: Premium-grade deposit
Colomine Gold Mine
Status: About 90% complete (May 2025)
Significance: Cameroon’s first underground gold mine
Kribi–Lobe Mineral Terminal
Status: Foundation laid
Significance: Dedicated mineral export infrastructure
Looking Ahead
Criticism surrounding discrepancies in gold production figures has often highlighted deeper, long-standing weaknesses rather than recent policy failures. The upward trend in officially recorded gold volumes suggests that reforms targeting transparency and state control are beginning to yield results.
As Cameroon continues to formalize and industrialize its mining sector, the true measure of success will lie in sustained production, transparent revenue flows, and local value addition. The current phase marks a transition—one that moves mining from promise to performance, with significant implications for the country’s economic future.
