“The National Mining Sector Is An Undeniably Powerful Lever”

“T he Minister of Mines, In­ dustry and Technological Development; Dear Media Practitioners; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for honouring my invi­ tation to take part in this joint press conference, which will focus pri­ marily on Cameroon’s mining sector and the launch of major projects in this field. It is, in fact, for this very purpose that I have invited the Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Professor Fuh Calistus Gentry, to join me, in my capacity as Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, to pro­ vide the national and international public with the necessary insights to understand the facts and issues surrounding this important sector. It is therefore a pleasure for me, Mr Minister, to extend a warm wel­ come to you on this occasion. I also wish to commend the strong turnout of media practitioners at this meeting, which is clearly of great interest. Ladies and Gentlemen, It is needless to remind you that the mining sector is today one of the most significant pillars of our economy. It therefore seems imperative to provide information on the strategic decisions taken in this area. In this regard, several projects have been launched. Among the most significant, we would mention the following, though this list is by no means exhaustive: • the Bipindi Grand-Zambi iron ore mining project, undertaken by a company that is wholly Cameroo­ nian-owned; • the Kribi-Lobé iron ore mining pro­ ject; • the Minim-Martap industrial bauxite mining project in the Ada­ mawa Region; • the Bidzar and Biou Sud industrial marble mining project; • the Colomine gold mining project in the East Region. Furthermore, during the year 2026, other projects, such as the Mbalam iron ore mining project in the East Region, that of Nkout and Ngo­ vayang in the South Region, as well as the Mborguéné gold mining project in the East and that of Bi­ bemi in the North, are in the process of being launched under the ste­ wardship of the Ministry in charge of Mines. In a different vein, the Government is currently pursuing the imple­ mentation of its policy on the de­ velopment of critical minerals and rare earth elements identified in various Regions of our country, which are in high demand by many world-renowned mining companies. As a matter of fact, achieving these objectives requires our institutional framework to be efficient and sufficiently attractive to major investors in the sector, in order to position Cameroon as the leading country in Africa in the exploitation of these minerals. It should be pointed out that these minerals are recognised as essential to the energy transition, understood as the shift from a model based on fossil fuels and polluting energy sources to a system founded on renewable and decarbonised sources of energy. This historic structural transforma­ tion, in which Cameroon is resolutely engaged, reflects the State's de­ termination to make the mining sector a major driver of growth, in­ dustrialisation, job creation and the improvement of the living conditions of the population. However positive this momentum may be, it cannot thrive in a context where certain artisanal or semi- mechanised mining activities conti­ nue to operate outside the legal, fiscal and environmental framework laid down by the laws and regula­ tions in force in Cameroon. With specific regard to the illegal exploitation of gold resources, the indicators suggest that the situation on the ground is, to say the least, a cause for concern. The presentation by the Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development will provide a detailed overview of the current situation. In light of the situation, the Go­ vernment intends to fulfil its res­ ponsibilities to the full. In this regard, the measures un­ dertaken are aimed not only at res­ toring the authority of the State, but also at ensuring that the wealth of Cameroon's subsoil benefits Ca­ meroonians first and foremost, in compliance with the law, with due regard for the environment and in the interest of future generations. In the same vein, the Government intends to place greater emphasis on bringing...