Cameroon to hold October hearings on proposed $2b alumina refinery

Public hearings on Camalco Cameroon’s proposed alumina refinery are scheduled for October 12–17, 2026. The company is a subsidiary of Australia-registered Canyon Resources.  The hearings will examine the project's environmental and social impact assessment. The refinery is linked to the Minim-Martap bauxite deposit in the Adamawa Region.

The Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED) announced the hearings in a public notice. Meetings will take place in Ngaoundéré and Martap, with mobile teams visiting nearby communities. Residents will be able to review the assessment report and comment on the project's potential environmental and social effects.

The hearings are part of the review process. They do not amount to a construction permit or a final investment decision.

Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: "Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook"

Refinery capacity and investment plans

The proposed refinery's capacity has changed across project updates. In an April 2025 presentation, Canyon Resources said it was preparing a bankable feasibility study for a plant with annual alumina production capacity of 500,000 to 2 million tonnes. By January 2026, the study was 45 per cent complete. In April, the company said it aimed to complete the assessment in the third quarter of 2026.

The Cameroonian government has outlined a larger project. On April 2, 2026, the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development (MINMIDT) referred to a refinery in Makor with an annual capacity of 2.4 million tonnes. The government said construction could begin in 2027, with investment estimated at more than USD 2 billion. 

These figures are based on government projections and may differ from the refinery plans now being reviewed in the public hearings. 

The proposed refinery is intended to allow Cameroon to process more of its bauxite domestically. It could eventually supply Alucam, the country's primary aluminium producer, which currently imports alumina for its electrolytic smelters.

Looking for alumina refinery raw materials? Compare grades, explore sourcing options, and connect with global suppliers on AL Biz.

Minim-Martap mine faces funding uncertainty

The refinery proposal comes as the development schedule for the Minim-Martap bauxite mine remains uncertain. In August 2026, Canyon Resources withdrew its forecast for the first bauxite shipment, previously expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, citing uncertainties over financing and logistics.

The change affects the mine's development and raw bauxite exports. The refinery studies are continuing separately, but the proposed plant would need a reliable supply of bauxite, transport infrastructure, energy and financing.

The uncertainty intensified after AFG Bank Cameroon suspended access to the remaining funds under the project's syndicated financing facility on August 24. The bank requested updated information on the development schedule, financial model and economic assumptions. Canyon has also reduced non-essential spending while the review proceeds.

Unlock key insights from leading companies and experts across the aluminium ecosystem with our e-Magazine - Mine to Market: Aluminium Producers & Manufacturers 2026

Canyon has said the Minim-Martap deposit contains about 1.1 billion tonnes of mineral resources and 144 million tonnes of ore reserves. The ore averages around 51 per cent alumina and about 2 per cent silica. The company has also advanced plans for rail transport, including increasing its stake in Camrail from 9.1 per cent to 26.9 per cent in May 2026.

Processing bauxite into alumina in Cameroon could allow the country to retain more value from its mineral resources instead of exporting the ore in raw form. However, the refinery's technical specifications, cost, financing and construction schedule remain unresolved, while funding uncertainty continues to affect the Minim-Martap mine.