South Region: Biya’s Envoy, Dion Ngute, sets giant mining projects in motion.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by members of government, notably: Interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development; Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry; Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Prof Jacque Fame Ndongo; Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng; and the Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Masena Ngalle Bibehe

It was equally attended by elite of the region, local administrative, municipal, religious and traditional authorities as well as the population.

According to the Head of Government, the official launch of the project marks a decisive step in the process of developing the metallurgy and steel industry in the country. 

He stressed that the project aligns with the National Development Strategy, SND 2020-2030, and Vision 2035 of President Paul Biya to make Cameroon an emerging country united in its diversity.

The strategy, he indicated, is based among other things, on the structural transformation of the national productive fabric to stimulate sustainable industrialisation.

The PM noted that: "It is also a question of giving impetus to the policy of large-scale substitution that has been prescribed by the President of the Republic”. 

He added that: "The Head of State already saw the Bipindi-Grand Zambi Iron Ore Mining Project as a lever for the development of solid mining, through which additional mining resources would become available".

The Prime Minister said the rich potential of the Bipindi area, with an estimated reserve of 150 million tonnes of magnetite ore at an average grade of 29.45% iron, made government to include it among the 16 priority mining projects. He said the project will be implemented in six Regions.

Praises G-Stone for tremendous work done

The Prime Minister lauded the mining company, G-Stone Resources SA, and its leader, Dieudonné Bougne, President Director General of BOCOM Group, for the tremendous efforts made since project works began in June 2022. 

Dion Ngute was specific about the opening of a 7km road and the design of the open-pit mine.

The PM said with the use of high-performance equipment acquired for mining and genetic engineering work, G-stone has completed the construction of an iron ore processing plant, and an iron concentration plant, in order to have an annual production of one million tonnes of 65% iron concentrate. 

Meanwhile, the second concentration plant, which is currently under construction, Dion Ngute noted, will enable the company to achieve an annual production of 3 million tonnes of iron concentrate. 

He mentioned that the company is equally working on setting up a steel complex as the new mine processing unit will enable it to build an iron mine that will use iron concentrate to produce 100% iron billets with a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year. 

Prime Minister stated, will be used directly by customers in Cameroon and the Central African sub region.

Impressive benefits

Going by the PM, Cameroon will derive impressive benefits from the operation. Besides the creation of nearly 3,500 direct and indirect jobs, he emphasised that the project will revitalise the national economy from the first year of production.

In this regard, he mentioned contributions to the mining sector development fund, the fund for the restoration, rehabilitation and closure of mining sites and quarries, and the special account for the development of production capacities. 

He also said the State will generate resources in terms of payment of taxes, duties and royalties. 

"In view of the data I have just mentioned, you will agree with me that the investment is colossal. The results are significant," he stressed.

G-Stone Resources boss acknowledges support

Taking the floor, the President Directory General of G-Stone Resources SA, Dieudonné Bougne, acknowledged the multi-dimensional support the project has received so far.

He expressed gratitude to the population of the surrounding communities and authorities for collaboration in the last 12 years that has seen the project reach the current state.

In addition, he sent a special message of gratitude to the Head of State, Paul Biya for personally following up the project. 

Biya, Bougne said, ensured that the project got government support especially with the exploitation license for the project.

He outlined a number of other projects that his group plans to execute in the country. The projects, he said, are inspired by his vision of creating enough job for the country’s youth and solving energy challenges facing the country.

Bougne also acknowledge that financial and technical support from the Canadian government.

Bipindi Mayor hails project

Speaking at the event, the Mayor of Bipindi Council, Elias Bidon, said the "transformational project" is highly welcomed by his population and the entire South Region.

He then thanked the Head of State for the setting up the all-important project in his municipality. Bidon also mentioned that the project represents a lot opportunities for the locals. 

The municipal authority cited job openings and the economic spinoffs on the local economy.

Bidon, however, brought some concerns to the Prime Minister, particularly the case of the Lolodorf-Bipindi Road axis. He also mentioned inadequate power supply among others.

Given the current political atmosphere, the municipal authority reassured the President of the Republic of massive votes from the South Region in the October 12 presidential election.

PM also gives major boost to SINOSTEEL's Kribi-Lobe project

From the Bipindi-Grand Zambi Iron Ore project site, the Prime Minister and his delegation proceeded to Kribi seaside location of the Kribi-Lobe Iron Ore project. There, he laid the foundation stone for the construction of a mineral terminal.

The Kribi-Lobe Iron Ore project, with a reserve estimate of 632 million tonnes of an average grade of 33%, is being implemented by the Cameroonian subsidiary of the Chinese mining company, SINOSTEEL.

The iron ore project has two principal components: mines and mineral terminal. With the mine component, the value of the deposit based on current prices is US$ 36 billion, officials stated.

With a production rate of 8 million tonnes of iron concentrate per year, experts said the mine's lifespan is estimated at 45 years. 

The State's share of the company's turnover is approximately 10%, to which are added common law taxes after return on investment and dividends of 10%, authorities stated.

On the other hand, the mineral terminal to be built by SINOSTEEL is said to enable the shipment of 14 million tonnes of iron concentrate.

In accordance with the concession agreement signed between the company and the Port Authority of Kribi, PAK, all related costs will be managed by the State, officials said.

The SINOSTEEL's long-term modular terminal, it was also said, could enable the shipment of 47,500,000 tonnes of ore, with revenue generated for the Public Treasury as part of the joint management of the terminal with PAK.

The same principle of assessing the benefits to the State is said to be applied to other projects. 

Some of these are; the iron ore mining projects in Mbalam, Djoum III, Ntem and Ngovayang, which have deposits that are much richer and more abundant than those in Bipindi Grand-Zambi and Kribi-Lobe, it was specified.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3573 of Tuesday September 23, 2025