Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese Mining Project Prof Fuh Calistus announces imminent relaunching.

The member of government gave the assurances during a strategic three-day working visit to the Nkamouna-Lomié project site in the Upper Nyong Division of the East Region. 

The field visit gave the Interim Minister firsthand evaluation of the raw rock and the first soil samples taken at the site. He also had a strategic debriefing session with authorities and consultation with the local population of the area. 

Minister Fuh Calistus, in his address to the population, reminded them of President Paul Biya’s announcement of the kick-start of three major mining projects viz; the Kribi Iron Ore Mining Project, Mbalam Iron Mining Project and Grand Zambi Iron Mining Project.

He said on the high instruction of the Head of State and after consultation within the Ministry, nine other projects were selected as priorities for the government.

The projects, he said, should benefit from a one-stop shop and extended institutional support to enable work on them to start as soon as possible.

He said in total, twelve projects have been classified into three categories according to their estimated start-up date. He said they include short-term projects with work scheduled to start in 2023, medium-term projects with work scheduled to start between 2024 and 2025 and long-term projects with work scheduled to start in 2026 or 2027.

The member of government said following discussions with the various companies involved in mining projects, five projects have been classified as short-term. 

Prof Fuh Calistus said, added to the three projects mentioned by the Head of State, are the Colomine Gold Mining Project and the Mborguéné Gold Mining Project.

He recalled that the GEOCAM Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese Mining Project was initially classified as a medium-term project, in view of certain aspects that remained ambiguous.

He however clarified that after several intense working sessions, added to the determination of the project owner to find a better outcome, the project was reclassified as a short-term project with a high probability of starting up in 2023. 

The 18-year-old project, is now being carried out by Phoenix and its subcontractors, Sinohydro and Zinghight.

“This step forward is to be applauded and credited to all the stakeholders who played a decisive role in the project. It is perfectly in line with the vision of the Head of State to make the mining sector the cornerstone of economic recovery of our beloved and beautiful country, Cameroon,” Prof Fuh Calistus told the population. 

He added that in order to “get the project off the ground as quickly as possible, a number of challenges have been identified that need to be addressed as soon as possible”.

Fuh Calistus Gentry reminded everyone of the government’s commitment and determination to get the mining sector off the ground, offering young people a future of hope in the form of many direct and indirect jobs, hence the lifting of blockages on each mining project.

He cited challenges which solutions have been proffered including; the construction of the open-pit mine, ore processing unit, road infrastructure to access the site, updating of the project feasibility study and GEOCAM's liabilities.

Prof Fuh Calistus also mentioned restructuring GEOCAM's capital geography, reopening of GEOCAM's Yaounde office and social compensation to the population of the area. 

“At the end of this work, a full report, including the main recommendations and an update of the action plan for the Nkamouna-Lomié Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese Project, will be drawn up and forwarded to the Prime Minister's Office for the full and highest information of the Head of Government, who attaches great importance to the completion of this project,” he assured the population and other stakeholders. 

Enter mayor 

Speaking earlier during the visit, the Mayor of Lomie, pleaded with the Minister to ensure jobs are provided to youth of the municipality when the project is re-launched. He said such a move will boost the development of the area. 

The municipal authority pledged the support of the population towards unblocking any hindrance to the re-launching of the project.

It should be said that the Interim Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, used the working visit to embark on field trip to see things for himself.