Lobe-Kribi Iron Ore Mining Project: Laying of foundation stone imminent as ministerial delegation proffers solutions to challenges.

This follows the proffering of solutions to challenges that had been stalling the takeoff of the project. The solutions to the challenges were outlined during a two-day working visit of a ministerial delegation to Kribi, Ocean Division of the South Region, from April 17-18. 

The ministerial delegation to the working visit was led by the Secretary of State in the Ministry Mines, Industries and Technological Development, who is equally Acting Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Prof. Fuh Calistus Gentry.  

The challenges faced, it should be noted, ranged from the mine itself, infrastructure, enrichment plant, compensation for those whose lands with titles will be used, social amenities to communities and challenges at the level of Kribi Port Authority. 

With these challenges having been addressed during the working visit, the stage is now set for the laying of the foundation stone of the project in the months ahead.

The working visit, it should be noted, was aimed at assessing the progress of the project and proffering solutions to all challenges, in accordance with the activity schedule previously agreed on during an internal technical consultations held at the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development in February 2023, between the Ministry and Sinosteel officials. 

Minister Prof Fuh Calistus was accompanied during the working visit by the Governor of the South Region, Senior Divisional Officer of Ocean Division, the General Manager of SONAMINES, Divisional Officers of Kribi I, Campo and Lekoundjé, the Mayor of Kribi I Council, officials of Sinosteel CAM S.A, as well as officials of the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development.

During the working visit, the delegation made a stopover at the Sinosteel company site in Campo, held a restitution session with the administrative authorities and the Sinosteel company managers, had a working session at the head office of the Kribi Port Authority (in the presence of the person in charge of the site assisted by his close collaborators), and had an exchange session with the populations living near the project site. 

Campo site visit

During the visit to the Campo site, there were stops at the outcrop where the open pit will be built and at the base of operations where topographic work is being carried out with the help of a drone. 

This work will eventually (in June 2023) allow the elaboration of a mass plan to delimit the area where the mine and the enrichment plant will be located. In addition, Sinosteel is also continuing the work of updating the environmental and social impact study.

Challenges at this phase, it was disclosed, include the construction of the open pit mine, construction of the ore beneficiation plant, infrastructure work-notably the earthworks on the site and the construction of access roads leading to the exploitation site. It was also disclosed that Sinosteel has until the beginning of September 2023 to begin the construction of the access road either by itself or via a local company.

Evaluation of level of work 

Meanwhile, during a restitution session with the administrative authorities and the managers of Sinosteel, which took place at the Ocean Divisional Delegation of the Ministry of Public Works, the stakeholders evaluated the level of progress of the work of the report commission and evaluation of the elements set up for this purpose by a Prefectoral order of August 04, 2022. 

From presentations during the session, it emerged that the cadastral work of delimiting the site has already been undertaken. It was also disclosed that two major challenges were met- compensation and social amenities to communities.

As concerns compensation, the report on the work of the property survey and evaluation commission, it was agreed, must be transmitted to the Ministry of State Property Surveys and Land Tenure, MINDCAF, latest May 15, 2023 for the continuation of the procedure.

Regarding social amenities compensation, it was stated that the interests of the indigenous populations must be taken into account. This, it was noted, is in order to preserve social peace by reassuring that the interests of these populations be preserved within the context of the realisation of the project.

Working session at Kribi Port Authority

On day two of the working vision, the Ministerial delegation held a working session with the management of the Kribi Port Authority.

It should be noted that at the end of technical consultations that preceded the visit, two concerns relating to the Kribi Port Authority had been raised and considered as challenges to be met. These included the issue of the overlap of the permit of this company with the DUP of the port and that of the iron ore mineral terminal. 

After discussions on these two issues a number of decisions were made. 

Concerning the problem of the iron ore terminal, it was noted that the regulatory framework does not provide for the port to house private port facilities. However, there can be dedicated facilities. Nevertheless, a mining cluster was conceived within which all the mining players can cohabit. 

However, while waiting for the construction of this mineral terminal, it is possible that Sinosteel will use the existing multipurpose terminal of the Kribi port on a transitory basis for the export of the first productions of iron concentrate, but under supervision. 

Regarding the issue of overlap, the Director General of the Kribi Port Authority reassured that the situation would not be a handicap to the start of the project, adding that a discussion platform will be set up on this between the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development and the Kribi Port Authority. 

Strategic meeting with local population

Meanwhile, there was also a session with the local population to address community concerns. The meeting brought together the populations affected by the project. 

The objective was to reassure them that measures have been taken, even beyond the terms of the mining agreement, to ensure that their rights to social compensation are respected as soon as Sinosteel begins production. 

In this regard, Sinosteel will reinforce the three existing health centres in the surrounding localities. In addition, the surplus energy that will be dedicated to the enrichment plant will be made available to the local population.

Imminent laying of foundation stone 

With the seven aforementioned challenges to be met in order to ensure the effective start of the project, the laying of the foundation stone, it was disclosed, may take place before the end of this year.

The approach thus adopted for the project will be the same for all the five short-term projects, three of which were mentioned by the Head of State (Kribi-Lobé iron by SINOSTEEL, Akom II by G-STONES and Mbalam by Cameroon Mining Company) and two others at the same level of advancement (Mborguéné gold project by CAMINCO and Colomine gold project by CODIAS). The mining convention with CAMINCO, which will be held in the next few days in Mbalmayo, is in the same vein. 

For each of these projects, a regional committee for monitoring the timetable of operations, chaired by the Governor of the South Region and coordinated by the SDOs, will be set up.