At launch of Minim-Martap bauxite project: Mines minister announces bonanza of opportunities for Cameroon.

The site of technical launch was in Martap Subdivision, Vina Division of the Adamawa Region.

It was launched in the presence of officials of the implementing mining company, CAMALCO S.A, as well as administrative, municipal and traditional authorities of the Region.

The project, which has proven reserves of 99.1 million tonnes of bauxite containing 51% alumina and 2.4% silica, will be exploitable over a period of 20 years.

The technical launch signalled the commencement of works related to the construction of project components.

The project components include: the construction of an open-pit mine, the development of a road section between the extraction site and Makor station, the development of the mineral station, the rehabilitation of the railway between Makor and Douala, the construction of a mineral terminal at the Port of Douala, and the completion of a feasibility study for the construction of a bauxite-to-alumina processing plant.

In his keynote address, Minister Fuh Calistus described the Minim-Martap Bauxite project as a major project in Cameroon of a "continental" dimension. 

He then stressed that the commencement comes with lot of opportunities for the communities concerned, the entire Adamawa Region and the entire Cameroonian economy. 

"We have a proven reserve of about 700 million tonnes and of that, about 100 million tonnes are of very high grade, which will be exported, while the remaining about 500 million tonnes will be transformed here around Minim-Martap, which means a bonanza of opportunities" the minister declared.

He added that: "Today we have launched several facets, we have launched the mining site where we are standing, the construction which will link here to Makor, the railway depot in Douala and social projects..."

According to the minister, the flagging off of the Minim-Martap project symbolises a "new feather" that has been added to the Cameroon mining industry.

"This project has made ALUCAM our flagship bearer to even be more attractive in a way that we have received more than 10 different requests from people to enter into the social capital of alumina and Cameroon at the right time, through this, will take its rightful place as the champion of industry in Africa", he further explained.

Project state of advancement 

It was revealed that the Ministry of Land Tenure has granted a Declaration of Public Utility, DUP, for the open-pit mine, while the mine design has already been completed with the mining list for the importation of materials and equipment to be used in the development and construction phase of the mine has already been submitted to the Ministers of Mines and of Finance in order to benefit from the customs exemptions provided for in the Mining Code.

With regards to the 45 km road section between the extraction site in Martap and Makor train station, detailed topographical studies and engineering work have been carried out, leading the Ministry of Public Works to grant the necessary authorisations to CAMALCO for the construction of this section.

Also, the location of the mineral station has been approved by the Ministry of Transport with the construction of the station expected to last seven months. Similarly, the Minister of Transport has granted CAMALCO authorisations for the manufacture and import of locomotives and wagons to be used for the transport of bauxite. 

The related works have scheduled to take seven months.

With regard to the rehabilitation of the 600 km railway between Makor and Douala, CAMALCO has committed to financing the reinforcement work on the existing track, estimated by the Ministry of Transport and the Cameroon Railway company, CAMRAIL at 4.5 billion FCFA. The works are said to enable between 500,000 and one million tonnes of bauxite to be transported over a period of 18 months, with the possibility of increasing the quantity to three million tonnes in 2027 and six million tonnes by 2030.

An agreement between the State and CAMALCO is expected to be signed in the coming days to establish the rules for the rehabilitation work to be carried out within a six-month timeframe.

As for the mineral terminal, the Port Authority of Douala has granted CAMALCO a dedicated space of 6.5 hectares.

Regarding the bauxite-to-alumina processing unit, feasibility studies are being conducted by Deloitte, and the first draft to be submitted to MINMIDT in September 2026.

Enter CAMALCO DG 

According to the Director General of CAMALCO, Rana Patrap Singh, the Minim-Martap project is more than a mere industrial initiative, but a realisation of the vision of the president of the country.

He explained in his speech that since government granted the mining permit in September 2024, the board of CAMALCO, with the support of MINMIDT, and all other sectorial ministries, has engaged several initiatives to complete and fast track certain aspects of the project.

Great opportunities for populace

The company has also expressed its commitment to launch social projects, especially in the domains of health, education and other self-employment opportunities.

In phase one, the DG said the company will construct a school, a modern medical facility, and a market, all in Martap. 

"With an estimated investment of over 450 million dollars, the commencement of the mining project, the project will be creating about thousands of direct and indirect jobs during construction phases and stages. During the operation stage, we anticipate about 700 direct and indirect employment, not to mention that in these jobs could numbered a few thousand," Singh assured.

Meanwhile, with the company also considering the construction of an aluminum refinery, a few more thousand jobs may be created. 

In this regard, the CAMALCO company is continuing discussions with country authorities as well as technical and financial partners to create the necessary conditions to make the refinery a reality in the project. 

The DG insisted that with the support of all stakeholders, the company is confident in making the Minim-Martap Bauxite project one of the best mining projects in the country.

Mayor makes appeal

In his well address, the Mayor of Martap council, Iya Souleymanou, pleaded for priority to be given to the sons and daughters of the area in the recruitment workers and in the appointment of key functions within the implementing company.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3506 of Thursday July 17, 2025