(Business in Cameroon) – Canyon Resources, the Australian company backed by Singapore-based funds and developer of the Minim Martap bauxite deposit in Cameroon’s Adamaoua region, is in advanced negotiations with Camrail, the national railway concessionaire, to increase its stake from 9.1% to 35%, Investir au Cameroun reported. The deal would represent an investment of nearly CFA20 billion ($30 million).
This capital increase reflects Canyon’s goal of reducing transport costs and securing a strategic logistics link for its mining project, as rail is the vital route for moving bauxite to port facilities. Logistics remain central to the project since they determine the transport of ore from Minim Martap to export terminals. In line with this, more than six hectares have already been allocated to Camalco at the Port of Douala, with additional space promised to facilitate exports.
At the Port of Kribi, which aims to become a leading mineral hub, logistical challenges persist. During the inauguration of the port’s second container terminal on May 9, 2025, authorities stressed the urgent need to modernize corridors linking Kribi to the hinterland. Priority projects include rehabilitating the Édéa–Kribi road, paving the Ebolowa–Kribi route, and launching construction of the Édéa–Kribi railway.
“We strongly call for the swift implementation of initiatives already undertaken by the government,” port management said, warning that without these improvements, Kribi’s ambition to become a mineral hub would remain compromised. Nicolas Sartini, vice president of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), summed up the challenge: “Once Kribi is connected to Édéa by a proper road and railway, the port will join the circle of million-TEU ports.”
The future of the Minim Martap project will depend heavily on Cameroon’s ability to address these logistical hurdles.
