On September 12, 2025, Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Dion Nguté presided over the groundbreaking ceremony and financing agreement signing for Proalu SA’s upcoming aluminium transformation plant in Douala. Proalu SA is a subsidiary of Prometal Groupe, the leading steel producer in Central Africa. Douala is located in Cameroon, a country in Central Africa.
At the heart of this initiative lies a strategic partnership with Alucam, Cameroon’s state-owned aluminium producer. Under the agreement, Alucam will supply 2,500 tonnes of raw material every month, ensuring the new facility’s operations while securing CFA48 billion (USD 86.5 million) in annual revenue, vital support for the struggling enterprise.
Worth CFA88 billion (USD 157.5 million), the project is powered by a unique financing structure. A consortium of three local banks—BGFI Bank, Société Générale Cameroun, and Afriland First Bank—along with Proparco, the private-sector arm of France’s AFD, has pledged CFA54.4 billion (USD 98 million), representing 61.8 per cent of the total cost. BGFI leads with CFA15.55 billion, while Proparco and Société Générale each contribute CFA15 billion, and Afriland rounds off with CFA8.9 billion.
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Vision of the upcoming project
The Douala plant is designed to produce 30,000 tonnes of aluminium coils and an equal volume of pre-coated aluminium and steel coils, alongside composite panels and 8,000 tonnes of electrical cables annually. By replacing imports valued at CFA27 billion (USD 48.7 million) each year, the facility will not only slash Cameroon’s trade deficit but also reinforce the government’s import-substitution strategy.
Beyond its production capacity, the plant is expected to employ around 1,500 people, including 450 directly. The government also anticipates CFA10 billion in annual tax revenues and an additional CFA15 billion in economic value creation. For Cameroon, this isn’t just a factory but a symbol of industrial renewal. By turning raw aluminium into high-value products like coils, panels, and cables, the country is reducing its dependency on imports, diversifying its manufacturing base, and aligning with global trends in infrastructure and energy development.
The project, three years in the making, was structured by JMJ Africa, a Cameroonian advisory firm founded by ex-KPMG consultant Patrice Yantho. For Proalu, a subsidiary of Prometal Groupe, this venture extends its leadership from steel into aluminium, marking a bold step in Central Africa’s industrialisation story.
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