(Business in Cameroon) – The Government of Cameroon, through the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, MINMIDT, has entered into a formal partnership with Delta Group to build a skilled workforce for the country’s expanding mining and petroleum sectors. The initiative will provide technical education, overseas scholarships, and provide funds for local projects.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on 19 November in Yaounde, was the centrepiece of a national exchange forum chaired by the interim Minister of Mines, Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry. The event brought together youth representatives, women’s associations, and stakeholders from the mining, petroleum, and industrial sectors.
Under the agreement, Delta Group, headquartered in Mangalore, India, will co-finance the construction of the Meyomessala School of Mines, Geology, and Petrochemistry in the South Region. The school will serve as a national training hub for technical and support roles in the mining and petroleum sectors, with a focus on youth and women.
The company, founded in 1986, will also sponsor scholarships for Cameroonian students to study mining in India and facilitate the deployment of international geologists to Cameroon to train local professionals. In parallel, the company will contribute to an investment fund aimed at supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Small and Medium-Sized Industries (SMIs) operating in the mining value chain.
Speaking at the forum, Minister Fuh Calistus said the agreement aligns with government policy, which prioritises youth and women’s empowerment through targeted investment in high-potential sectors such as mining, agriculture, digital technology, and services.
The minister noted that the school will help integrate graduates into a growing network of 15 active mining projects that currently employ over 1,000 Cameroonians. During the session, Minister Fuh Calistus disclosed that 10,000 direct jobs are expected in 2026 from major ongoing and new projects, including Minim-Martap, Grand Zambi, Sino Steel, and upcoming developments planned for Nkout and Ntem. He outlined an overall projection of 38,000 direct and indirect jobs for young Cameroonians in 2026 alone across mining and petroleum activities.
The minister highlighted that the Minim-Martap bauxite project, which positions Cameroon to become the second-largest bauxite producer in Africa, already supports 2,700 indirect jobs and could reach more than 5,000 direct jobs upon complete expansion. He added that the Bipindi-Grand Zambi iron ore development has already hired 500 people, of whom 90% are young Cameroonians.
The Lobé iron ore project in Kribi, with reserves estimated at 632.82 million tonnes at an average iron content of 33%, will require around 7,000 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs. The company behind the project has established a base camp with 1,000 housing units and recruited 250 staff, including 150 Cameroonians. Construction of the mineral terminal is underway and will enable the shipment of 14 million tonnes of iron concentrate in its initial phase and 47.5 million tonnes in a second phase.
The agreement also supports the development of related professions such as heavy equipment operators, mine labourers, occupational health specialists, nurses, and emergency responders, who are increasingly in demand as the sector expands. The investment fund will target SME participation in support services such as logistics, supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE, mineral handling, equipment maintenance, security, HR management, and industrial waste management sectors identified as critical to the mining ecosystem.
Mercy Fosoh
