Bauxite mining assures to boost development in Adamawa Region, Cameroon

It has been now declared that more than 1 billion tonnes of bauxite are detected in the mining towns of Minim, Martap, Ngaoundal and Makan in the Adamawa region, Cameroon. It emerges from the research work of the Australian mining company Camalco, a subsidiary of Canyon resources as reported on 25^th January 2021 by the Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development (Minmidt).

However, according to Camalco officials, the exploitation of the ore is scheduled for the end of 2022.

According to the estimate made through metallurgical and geological tests, the project contains resources classified almost totally in the “indicated” category and considered to be extremely reliable according to the JORC standards (Australasian code of communication of the results of exploration, mineral resources and ore reserves), with a content of 45.2% alumina and 2.8% silica.

As of now, various exploration permits granted to Camalco have enabled it to explore 65 new plateaus with 237 holes drilled and 1,469 samples collected. According to the experts, Cameroon has the best bauxite in the world, with 50% alumina against 2% silica. It must be said that Guinea has the world's largest reserves of bauxite, with high alumina content.  Guinean reserves are estimated at more than 40 billion tonnes, of which 23 billion are located in the Boké region.

In July 2018, the Govt. of Cameroon granted 3 exploration licenses to Camalco and it thus takes over the permits on the Ngaoundal and Minim-Martap bauxite deposits, previously awarded to the Cameroon Alumina Ltd. consortium. After a little more than 2 years of negotiations with the Cameroonian authorities, the Australian Canyon Resources has undertaken to mobilize more than 6 billion CFA francs, to fulfil a set of specifications which extends over 3 years.