Cameroon’s mining sector represents less than 1% of GDP, despite significant and identified mining resources and nearly 200 operating permits issued by the Government. The mining sector has undeveloped resources of bauxite, cobalt, cassiterite, gold, granite, iron ore, lignite, nepheline syenite, nickel, rutile, and uranium. However, most of the resources have yet not been exploited. Substantial infrastructure development would be required for their exploitation. Potential bauxite reserves exist at the Minim-Martap and Ngaouanda deposits, located in the remote northern parts of Cameroon.

One of the main reasons is the continental nature of the mining sites and the absence of a developed transport network (road and rail). Among the prominent projects, we note the upcoming exploitation of the Akonolinga rutile block, estimated at 500,000 tonnes. The iron exploitation sector has also seen great progress in the last two years: - The signing in June 2021 of a memorandum of understanding between the State and the companies AutSino Ressources (China/Australia) and Bestway Finance (Singapore), for the exploitation of the Mbalam iron deposit. The project, led by AutSino/Bestway in consortium with five Chinese companies, also includes the construction of the railway linking Mbalam (Eastern Region near the border with the Republic of Congo) to the port of Kribi and the concession of the terminal ore carrier. -signing in May 2022 of the mining agreement between the State and the Chinese group Sinosteel for the exploitation of iron ores from the Lobé site in the south of the country. It is planned on this site (20 km long) an extraction of 10 M tonnes of ore at 33% per year, for a production of 4 M tonnes of concentrate with a high iron content of 60%. The estimated mining agreement was reaffirmed with the signing of the decree granting a mining permit to Sinosteel’s Cameroonian subsidiary, Sinosteel Cam SA.