Kribi-Lobe Iron Ore Project: Equipment arrival signals imminent exploitation.

He gave the instructions to the management of SINOSTEEL S.A, the company charged with the project execution. This was after inspecting some equipment destined for the project Thursday January 11. The equipment, it should be recalled, had arrived the Kribi seaport from China last December 29, 2023. 

About 70 machines including mining trucks, crushers, excavators, loaders, and generators, are stationed at the port pending transportation to the project site situated some 10km from the port.   

After an inspection of the different equipment, the minister gave instructions to officials of SINOSTEEL to accelerate works that have already commenced at the project site. 

“These are heavy equipment not used for road construction but for mining. So we have huge trucks of about 150 tonnes of capacity,” the member of government said. 

Prof Fuh Calistus added that: “We have come here to push that the date of shipment of the first iron ore should be set. We are no more talking about start of project because the project has already started. We are here to make sure that we are able to give Cameroonians definite date when iron ore will leave this port of Kribi”. 

Going by the member of government, with the Kribi-Lobe, Mbalam-Nabeba and Bipindi-Grand Zambi Iron Ore projects already on, the first shipment of Made in Cameroon Iron Ore from the Kribi port is expected by June 2024.

“We are setting a target that we want to see the first shipment of iron ore from this port in the month of June this year,” he declared, adding that “we have set the three companies in competition and I think we will give a prize to the first company”. 

Kribi port playing key role in mining, industries sector 

According to the Interim MINMIDT boss, the Kribi port has a strategic role to play in the mining and industry sector as envisage by government. 

The port, he highlighted, will play a key role in the shipment of industrial and mining consignments into and out of the country as well as transform the city into an industrial hub after the city of Douala. 

“Kribi is at the centre of government policy in the mining and industrial sector. You can see that all these industries depend on the Kribi port,” Prof Fuh Calistus stated, before explaining that: “If the mineral site are exploitable, it is because we are about 10km from the port. So, there will be no problem of transport like the Mbalam project. But I can assure you that the Kribi port is at the centre for all the mining projects”.

In addition, he reassured that: “We are trying to see to it that the mining and industries, and the port of Kribi as a whole are going to bring industries to the basic needs of Cameroonians like tiles, iron rods should be made in Cameroon which will intend decrease the prices”. 

This way, the minister sounded upbeat will mark the “beginning of new age for Cameroon’s industries and mining”. 

Enter SINOSTEEL official

Speaking to the press, the Deputy Managing Director of SINOSTEEL Cameroon, Li Longhe, promised that they are ready to speed up works at the project site.

He said the equipment already in the country will be used in construction works and mining, pending the last segment of equipment to arrive from China.

“These equipment are very big and most of them are for mining and construction. According to our schedule, to use these machines is a step-by-step process,” the SINOSTEEL official said. 

Li Longhe further commented that: “The next equipment to arrive is for beneficing, that is for enrichment from low concentrated iron ore to high concentrated iron ore for commercial purposes. That will be dependent on the progress of these ones that are here”. 

While hoping that the equipment can get to the project site within the shortest possible time, he enumerated a number constraints they are faced with. 

“The roads are not good enough for these equipment to pass on especially on some bridges that are small and not strong enough to support these heavy equipment. But we are communicating with the authorities to solve this problem,” he told the press. 

Visit to tiles production factory

Earlier yesterday, the minister and his entourage paid a working visit to a tile production plant in Bipaga, a locality in the outskirts of Kribi, Ocean Division.  

The production plant that is under construction, belongs to the company, Keda Cameroon Ceramics Ltd, a subsidiary of the Chinese Keda Industrial Group, which plans to launch its ceramic tile production activities in Cameroon by June this year. 

After touring the different parts of the factory, guided by the Keda Cameroon Director General, Eric Wang, the minister held a working session with company management.

In the end, the minister said the purpose of their visit to the factory is to accelerate the putting into production of the ceramic plant by June 2024. 

“I want to assure Cameroonians that by June 2024, they will buy ceramic tiles produced here in Kribi,” Prof Fuh Calistus stated. 

“The company envisages to produce 20 million m2 of tiles a year with a daily production rate of 60,000m2 of tiles with an investment of about 40 billion FCFA,” the senior government official revealed. 

Meanwhile, he assured that government aims to ensure that all the elements are put together for tiles to be produced in Cameroon and are affordable to most Cameroonians. 

He also lauded the Chinese for taking up to invest in this sector with directly impact on the socio-economic lives of the people of this country.