Imminent launch of Mbalam-Nabebe Iron Ore project: Gov’t, Cameroon Mining Company seal deal to ensure effective implementation.

The cross-border project, found between the South Region of Cameroon and the Northern part of the Republic of Congo, is expected to be launched before the end of the year. 

The convention between the government of Cameroon and CMC, was signed October 5 in Yaounde. 

The Interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry, signed on behalf of the government of Cameroon while the Director General of CMC, Mr Hong, signed on behalf of his company, which is implementing the project.

The convention signing ceremony was the high point of a series of meetings organised from October 3 to 5, between stakeholders of the mining sector in view of the effective start of some three mining projects in the country as announced by the Head of State, President Paul Biya, during his end-of-year address to the nation in December 2022.

The convention was signed at the end of a meeting attended by officials of CMC, the Ministry of Mines, and the National Mining Corporation, better known by its French acronym, SONAMINES. 

CMC DG, interim Mines minister, collaborators in group photo

“We have signed a convention authorised by the Presidency of the Republic to make sure and facilitate this company to obey the timetable that has been given to them,” the minister stated, when asked about the purpose for the signed convention.

“We have also consulted and received information about the future meetings we will be having with our partners in Congo. The meetings are already scheduled for Brazzaville and Yaounde in continuation of these projects,” Prof Fuh Calistus added. 

When quizzed on his satisfaction level with the initial phase of the Mbalam project, the interim mines minister said the project has had a delay to kick off due to the complexity of the project.

“It’s a very difficult project as it involves two countries and so many decisions to be taken. Secondly, the project went through some litigations. So, it involves a lot of negotiations as we have been trying to sort out a lot of things,” he noted.

He, however, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, stressing that the Head of State remains committed for the project to be launched this year.

“I think we are doing well and trying to make sure that all the challenges are taken off. I am very pleased with the progress made so far,” he affirmed, adding that “before the end of this year, other meetings with our Congolese counterparts will give further clearance to make sure that what was said by the Head of State is respected”. 

Meeting between minister, SONAMINE & CMC officials

CMC commits to meet expectations

Speaking to the press on behalf of the CMC Director General, the CMC Director of Administration and Public Affairs, Patrick Tchouwa, said they remain committed to meeting up with the different exigencies of the project.

With the signing of the convention, he assured that they are going to put themselves to work on the remaining technical aspects in order to satisfy the demands of the Cameroon government, while waiting for the laying of the foundation stone on a date to be confirmed by the Heads of State of both Cameroon and Congo.

“I want to state that it was a concerted effort of both governments led by President Paul Biya and President Sassou Nguesso to reach the level we have attain today,” Tchouwa asserted.

He added that “we thank the two Heads of State and the minister of mines, who has been working since the initiation of this project for us to reach this level, while waiting for the fourth semester, which has started already, for the laying of the foundation stone”. 

Prof Fuh Calistus addressing issues of new tax policy during meeting Monday October 3

Revisiting previous meetings

The first in the series of meetings was held between the minister, his collaborators, quarry owners, transporters’ syndicate, and civil society actors on the need for the effective implementation of tax levied on quarry activities through the weigh bill system. 

During the October 3 meeting, attended by over 200 participants, actors in the quarry sector agreed to conform to the new tax, while the minister assured them of measures to be put in place to facilitate the process by making available at Regional Delegations of Mines documents for the weigh bill system accessible for transporters and quarry dealers. 

During the meeting, the interim minister also revealed that the enforcement measure for the weigh bill will focus on the quarry sector till the end of this year, while from January 2024, emphasis will be placed on the sand production and other subsectors.

In another meeting on October 4, members of some committees met to evaluate the state of advancement of some three key mining projects announced by the Head of State to effective start this year. 

Drivers trade unionists, quarry owners, civil society amongst others during meeting with minister Prof Fuh Calistus

The committees that were created for the follow-up mining projects of SINOSTEEL in Kribi, and the Akom II project by G-STONES evaluated the state of progress made by the different contracting firms. It was announced during the meeting that a team made up of the civil society and people not linked to the industry, would be sent to the field to have a direct assessment of the progress made so far at the different projects.

Last October 5, another meeting with officials of the mining firm, GEOVIC, held to ascertain measures taken to ensure the smooth start of the Nkamouna cobalt-nickel-manganese project found in Lomie subdivision, Upper Nyong Division of the East Region.

The minister assured that in a week’s time, location for the project plant site will be cleared out and equipment put in place for the possible laying of ground stone.

It also filtered from the meeting that a team from this ministry and stakeholders will be deployed to China to see the improvement in the construction of other components of the project to be shipped to Cameroon. After the end of the China trip, another mission will be assigned to Brazil. The mission to Brazil involving some gold mining operators, will enable them to learn about a new equipment and techniques that will be introduced in the mining sector, which are safe for environment, rivers, and other aspects. 

According to the minister, the new style of mining will also increase the yields of miners by up to 55% as only 40% of the gold mined is recovered presently.