At launch of PROALU project: PM lauds PROMETAL's GROUP investment of 88 billion FCFA in aluminium transformation.

Dion Ngute made the observation in Douala on Friday, September 12. This was during a ceremony to lay the foundation stone and signing of finance treaties of the PROALU aluminium processing plant.

Dion Ngute said the project is a “determinant step” in Cameroon’s industrialisation strategy and pledged government’s support to the conglomerate.

He said the government, under the leadership of President Paul Biya, has chosen to make the steel industry particularly the bauxite-to-aluminium segment key in Cameroon’s industrialization drive.

The Prime Minister restated that government supports transformation activities likely to fully integrate the value chain that touches on areas such as; extraction of bauxite, processing of bauxite into alumina, transformation of alumina into aluminium and manufacture of various finished products based on aluminium.

The government’s goal, Dion Ngute stated, “…is to guide and promote initiatives capable of boosting the bauxite–aluminium value chain".

Dion Ngute said government is ready to institute fiscal incentives to ensure the success of the aluminium value chain. 

“PROMETAL’s foresight and the government’s support have come together to position Cameroon as a regional leader in aluminum transformation,” he said. 

The Prime Minister assured the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of PROMETAL GROUPE, Hayssam EL Jammal of President Paul Biya’s support and encouragement.

Diversifying industrial base

He also said PROALU will diversify Cameroon’s industrial base through the local transformation of aluminium and copper into high-demand finished products such as aluminium coils, pre-painted coils, sandwich panels, composite panels and electrical cables. 

The Head of Government said the factory “…will not only absorb a significant portion of ALUCAM’s production, but also provide Cameroon and the sub-region with materials that were until now largely imported”.

He underlined that the project falls squarely within the government’s policy of import-substitution, value addition, job creation and trade balance improvement.

According to the Prime Minister, the laying of the foundation stone for the PROALU project signals more than just the start of a new factory. 

He said it is the start of Cameroon’s less dependence on imports, better equipped for regional competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, scheme.

The plant, he said, will strengthen the "Made in Cameroon" brand and reduce trade deficits.

Project financing details

Officials said at the event that, the project will be supported by a consortium of local banks, notably; BGFI, Societe Generale, Afriland First Bank, as well as body PROPARCO

PROMETAL Group investments hit 200 billion FCFA

The CEO of PROMETAL GROUPE, Hayssam El Jammal, while speaking at the event, said the conglomerate has already invested over 200 billion FCFA in Cameroon’s metallurgical sector.

El Jammal said this has notably been through its pioneering steel plants that have made the GROUPE the reference name in Central Africa’s steel value chain. 

With five operational sites in Douala alone and more than 1,500 employees, El Jammal said PROMETAL has been instrumental in mastering the local transformation of scrap into high-quality steel products.

By venturing into aluminium through PROALU, El Jammal said the Group is adding a critical missing link in what is projected to become Africa’s first steel and metallurgy cluster – the PROMETAL Cluster.

He Declared that: “The story of PROMETAL is the story of partnership between the private sector and the Cameroonian State. Yesterday with steel, today with aluminium, tomorrow with a fully integrated metallurgy hub”.

The industrialist promised continued synergy between the PROMETAL Group and ALUCAM to power Cameroon’s industrialization.

PROALU project details

Once operational in 2027, the factory, officials disclosed, will boast a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes of aluminium coils, 30,000 tonnes of pre-coated steel coils, and 8,000 tonnes of copper and aluminium electrical cables annually. 

The output, authorities also stated, is expected to reduce imports worth at least 30 billion FCFA per year, while directly creating 450 jobs and over 1,000 indirect jobs.

PROALU, they added, will generate substantial fiscal revenues with over 2 billion FCFA annually in corporate taxes, plus 6 billion FCFA in Value Added Tax, VAT.

For ALUCAM, Cameroon’s historic aluminium producer, PROALU represents a guaranteed local off-taker for nearly 48 billion FCFA worth of inputs per year. 

Officials of the company said the project will consolidate the State-owned company’s future and stabilise the national aluminium ecosystem.

Win-win project for Douala, nation

Douala City Mayor, Dr Roger Mbassa Ndine, described the project as “a vote of confidence” in Cameroon’s economic capital. He thanked PROMETAL GROUPE for choosing Douala as host city for the project.

Dr Mbassa Ndine said the undertaking is yet another landmark investment that will “boost local SMEs through subcontracting opportunities” and further consolidate Douala’s status as an industrial hub.

About PROMETAL Group

The PROMETAL GROUPE, founded by Hayssam EL JAMMAL, President and CEO, is a conglomerate of several companies. With 200 billion FCFA already invested, 2,000 jobs, direct and subcontracted, the Group operates PROMETAL ACIERIE, a company under Cameroonian law created in 2009, which is the first modern metallurgical industry in Central Africa. 

Its headquarters is located in Douala. So far, the company has 120 billion FCFA in investment across five operational production sites, more than 320,000 m² total surface area, including, more than 95,000 m² for storage, 1,500 plus employees, direct and subcontracted

About ALUCAM

ALUCAM is leader in the aluminum industry in Central Africa. It is an industrial company created in 1954. It operates in the production and transformation of primary aluminum through four main processes: electrolysis, casting, rolling, and coating.

Its sites are located in Edea and Douala. The state and the National Investment Company, SNI, hold a majority share of 93.3%, while the French Development Agency, holds 5.06% and the rest is owned by other minor private shareholders. The Production capacity of the company is, 100,000 tons/year with 800 direct jobs and 700 indirect jobs.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3566 of Tuesday September 16, 2025