Three brick and tile production plants are planned in Cameroon’s Centre, Littoral and North regions by end-2027 under a zero-interest financing programme worth more than 40 billion CFA francs.
The government is expected to sign the loan agreement by April 2026, following a memorandum of understanding concluded on January 9, 2026 in Yaounde between the Mission for the Promotion of Local Materials (MIPROMALO) and UAE-based SGC Investment LLC, according to MIPROMALO Director General Likiby Boubakar.
In an interview with the national bilingual daily Cameroon Tribune, Boubakar said the three locations were selected based on the availability of raw material deposits.
Each identified deposit is currently undergoing studies to assess its exploitability, material characteristics and spatial extent, as well as the viability of the project and its alignment with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy (NDS30).
Site selection was also informed by research conducted jointly with the Federation of Marble Industries of Rio de Janeiro. Despite the regional distribution of production, the three plants are expected to supply construction materials nationwide.
Authorities say the initiative reinforces a March 12, 2007 prime ministerial circular requiring the use of local materials in the construction of public buildings up to the R+1 level. MIPROMALO officials say the programme is intended to support low-cost housing and expand access to affordable construction materials.
The 40 billion CFA franc financing programme carries a zero-percent interest rate and is currently being finalised by the relevant government bodies. A technical working group has been set up to prepare the loan agreement expected to be signed by April 2026.
Construction of the factories and installation of equipment are scheduled for completion by end-2027, when the plants are expected to begin operations.
Expanding a growing sector
MIPROMALO currently operates regional centres and branches in Bamenda, Dibombari, Ekondo-Titi, Garoua, Maroua, Ngaoundere and Yaounde, giving the agency a presence in seven of Cameroon’s ten regions. Centres in the East, West and South regions are expected to become operational by early 2027.
According to Boubakar, demand for local construction materials has been increasing due to their economic and environmental advantages.
Projects completed using local materials include classrooms built across the country’s ten regions, demonstration housing units, city halls, municipal markets and food storage facilities. Around 100 resettlement houses have also been constructed for populations displaced by the KPDC gas transport project along the Kribi-Edea corridor.
Private clients have also increasingly commissioned buildings using local materials, including churches, traditional chieftaincies, socio-cultural facilities and residential housing.
Authorities say the new programme is expected to contribute to the expansion of Cameroon’s local materials sector while supporting construction projects across the country.
Mercy Fosoh
