Bipindi-Grand Zambi, Lobe-Kribi iron ore projects: Companies fast-tracking works ahead of imminent laying of foundation stones.

The contractors in the past weeks have been very busy, multiplying efforts to pave the way for an official launch of the respective projects. 

This is the case of Akom II-Bipindi-Grand Zambi Iron Ore project, being carried out by the national company, G-Stones Resources SA and the Lobe-Kribi Iron Project, implemented by the Chinese multinational company, Sinosteel. 

These ongoing efforts are in line with the projections of the Head of State, President Paul Biya, who, in his last end-of-year address to the nation on December 31, 2022, announced the start of three key mining projects in the country this year.

The projects concerned are Akom II-Bipindi-Grand Zambi, Kribi-Lolabe, and Mbalam-Nabeba Iron Ore Projects.

The Bipindi-Grand Zambi Iron Ore Project, being carried out by Cameroonian company, G-Stones SA, has an estimated reserve of 150 million tonnes. It will produce two million tonnes of iron ore with a high concentration level of 65-68%.

For its part, the Lobe-Kribi Iron Ore Project, being carried out by Sinosteel-Cam SA, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned company, Sinosteel Corporation, plans to extract 10 million tonnes per year of 33% iron content annually for 10 years. The project has a proven iron reserve of about 632 million tonnes.

G-Stones Resources workers opening containers containing shipped machine parts for project plant

These, including the Geovic Mining Corp’s Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese project in Nkamouna, Upper Nyong Division of the East Region and the Codias’s Colomine industrial gold mining project in Ngoura, Lom and Djerem Division, East Region. They all form part of the country’s short-term projects in the mining sector.  

The projects identified as short-term are said to have the possibility of being launched between 2023 and 2024.

Progress at Bipindi-Grand Zambi projects

During a recent visit of a team of press men and women to the Bipindi-Grand Zambi project, it was observed that eight containers of parts of crushing machines had been delivered. 

According to the Head of Project at G-Stones SA, Dani Ngouaka, a team of experts were to arrive the project site as of October 23 for the mounting of the crushers, which may last for one month. 

“From Monday (October 23), a team that will mount the mobile crushers will arrive this site to commence work. The crushers will enable us crush sterile rocks, which will be further processed,” he said.   

Besides the eight crushers being mounted, it was revealed that another set of larger crushers are being manufactured in China, which, upon arrival, will speed up works in order to meet the annual target of a minimum 200 million tonnes of concentrated iron per year to be produced.

In order to power the different machines that will be used for this project, the G-Stones SA Head of Project, said a minimum of two or three sources of energy will be required.

“We are now working with ENEO for the supply of energy from the entrance of Kribi to this plant site,” he stated, before adding that “the source of energy will not be limited to ENEO”.

G-Stones project head presenting samples of mined iron ore to journalists

Having the possibilities of more energy supply, Ngouaka mentioned that they have already engaged the process of getting two more energy sources, which will enable the plant operate autonomously.

“During the exploitation phase, we want to be working for a minimum of 300 to 330 days per year. For this to happen, we must be as autonomous in energy supply as possible. It is advised to have a minimum of two or three sources of energy,” the G-Stones staff noted. 

200 million tonnes of concentrated iron per year 

The Cameroonian multi-billion FCFA mining company is also expected to produce a minimum of 200 million tonnes of concentrated iron ore annually upon the end of the second phase of the project.

In order to meet this target, the project head explained that they will need to be crushing about four to five million tonnes of iron on a regular basis.

“We have also engaged the company, MATLAP, for the provision of dynamites. This will enable us have quality dynamites that respond to our needs without any incidents during work,” he submitted.

He further explained that the dynamite will help in breaking the large rocks into small sizes that easily can pass through the crushers.

“The crushers have the capacities of 400 tonnes per hour, but the large crushers, yet to arrive, will have a capacity of 800 to 1,500 tonnes per hour,” he anticipated. 

The Cameroonian company has made further progress in grading a-7km access road from the plant site to Grand Zambi, where a motorable road ended.

“We are finalising the construction of some five permanent bridges on this road. We are also working on the possibilities of tarring the access road and also a Chinese company that will enable us conduct the enrichment phase, so that we can have high-grade iron at the end of the process,” he added.  

In addition, the road linking the plant location and the mining exploitation site, of about 3km, has been partially completed. 

Challenges

Going by the G-Stones Head of Project, the progress made so far hasn’t been without some huddles. 

“One of such was to educate the communities that were located around the project area on the need to relocate, in accordance with the measures of indemnity established by the State and the need to fast-track the project implementation,” Ngouaka said.

During the early stages of their work, the G-Stones official mentioned, they were often confronted with the beasts of the forest like gorillas that have been forced to move further away from the project zone due to the mechanical noise from their machines on duty.

Also, an environmental impact assessment study was said to have been carried out in 2021 and the report forwarded to the Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection for approval.

Project phases

As part of the Bipindi-Grand Zambi project, the contractor, G-Stones SA, is expected to construct a mineral terminal at the Kribi Seaport, tar a-7.5km road from the mining and processing sites to the iron and steel complex, if power is available in Grand Zambi.

A 20 to 30MW mini-power station, powered by heavy fuel oil, will be constructed to supply energy to the processing unit and the iron and steel complexes.

Evolution at Lobe-Kribi iron ore project

During the field visit to the project site by this reporter, it was a busy scene as bulldozers and excavators were seen working to get the grounds prepared for the eventual construction of plants, housing and other aspects of the construction phase of the project. 

On site, the Managing Director of Sinosteel Cam SA, Wung Ti, explained that they are fast-tracking works for the eventual laying of the foundation stone expected in December this year. 

Sinosteel Bulldozers clearing up area for project plant at Mont Mamelle

“What we are doing now is to clean to surface where the future construction of the plant will be done. We are pulling down tress and flattening the surface before the plant will be constructed,” the Managing Director told this reporter.

He, however, acknowledged that heavy rains have posed a major huddle for the current phase of work which may last for seven months before the eventual construction of the plant at the location known as Monts Mamelles.

The Sinosteel boss also assured that the equipment for the erection of the plant are being shipped as they have already engaged the Customs administration to facilitate their passage at the seaports.

While the preparation of the land for the construction of the plant is expected to run for seven months, the erection of the plant itself is anticipated to last for a period of three years. 

Sinosteel officials, supervisors watch on as bulldozers clear up zone for construction works

Project potentials 

Going by the Sinosteel Cam boss, studies they have conducted have revealed a potential of about 630 million tonnes of crude ore concentrated at only 33%. 

Once the plant has been erected, he said, Sinosteel intends to produce about six million tonnes of crude ore per year, which will be enriched to give about two million tonnes of concentrated iron ore.

He also mentioned that they will then evolve to a regular phase 10 million tonnes to be extracted to give four million tonnes of concentrated ore. 

Source of employment 

Paul Ntep Gweth, adviser to the Cameroonian subsidiary of the Chinese state-own company, also admitted the company’s readiness to respect the Mining Code of the convention signed with the State of Cameroon and which fixes the quota of workers to be employed at the project.

“Of the about 600 workers for this project, there will be 90% nationals. For intermediary staff, there will be more than 50% nationals and also for locals of these areas,” the Sinosteel adviser assured. 

Sinosteel MD responding to questions from pressmen and women

Compensation for those effected 

According to the Sinosteel adviser, efforts are underway for the compensation of persons affected by the establishment of the mining project.      

He said in accordance with the laws of Cameroon, after the granting of the mining permit by the Head of State, the Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure, had to prepare the area for public utilities, followed by the setting up of a land committee to evaluate the impact of the projects, identify victim and compensation value.

The land committee involving the communities affected and headed by the Senior Divisional Officer of Ocean Division of the South Region, had completed their work and a report submitted to government for processing.

“All these have been done and submitted to the Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure. The minister of lands is already working on three decrees for the incorporation of this land for public utility, to expropriate those in this area and to compensate the affected people. We are only waiting for these decrees to compensate those concerned,” Ntep told The Guardian Post.

The adviser equally insisted that several fictitious land certificates, identified during the Land Committee sessions, have been cancelled by the Minister of Lands, acting on the firm instructions of the Head of State, in a bid to facilitate the work of the contracting company. 

“For the compensation of affected population, the State has annulled 129 land titles that people had made in this virgin forest,” he avowed.