CAMEROON Trends and Developments Contributed by: Lynda Amadagana, Elise Ngo Nyobe, Hervée Belinga and Abel Esseba, Amadagana & Partners
rounding the remuneration mechanisms for private partners. The financing models and revenue streams now have a clearer legal basis, which improves the bankability of projects. The reform is accompanied by another major change, Decree No 2025/01081/PM of 17 June 2025 on the maturation of public investment projects. This instru - ment requires that a project obtain a maturity visa prior to any implementation. For PPPs, this entails, in particular, a prior financial viability study and a comparative analysis of procure - ment methods. In current practice, investors must therefore engage in discussions with public authori - ties at a very early stage, in order to anticipate the constraints associated with the maturation process. Cameroon continues, moreover, to develop several major structural projects. The expansion of the Port of Kribi, the Douala–Ngaoundere railway corridor and the post-Nachtigal energy projects, illustrate this momen - tum. Going forward, significant needs are anticipated in energy infrastructure, solar mini-grids and medium- sized hydroelectric projects. In parallel, on 25 February 2025, the Council of Min - isters of the Central African Economic Union ( Union Économique de l ’ Afrique Centrale – UEAC) adopted a directive establishing the legal and institutional frame - work for PPPs in the CEMAC Zone. The adoption of this instrument follows the elaboration of a public procurement strategy (Decision No 03/24-CEMAC- UEAC-CM). Mining Sector Cameroon’s mining sector, long regarded as under - exploited and governed by fragmented and at times outdated legislation, is undergoing a profound trans - formation following the adoption of Law No 2023/014 of 19 December 2023 enacting the Mining Code, together with its eight implementing decrees issued at the end of 2024. This reform is part of a broader drive to modernise extractive governance, seeking to rec - oncile economic attractiveness, environmental sus - tainability and national sovereignty. The new mining legislation marks a departure from previous extractive
approaches, placing local communities, transparency and accountability at the heart of the legal framework. Key projects in the starting phase Cameroon is launching an investment programme of unprecedented scale for its mining sector. According to the annex to the Finance Law relating to major infra - structure projects, the government plans to mobilise XAF1,748 billion over the period 2026–2030 to devel - op three strategic iron ore deposits: Mbalam (XAF747 billion), Kribi-Lobe (XAF431 billion) and Bipindi-Grand Zambi (XAF570 billion). The Mbalam iron ore mining project in Cameroon launched its first exports in February 2026. With regard to the Kribi-Lobe iron ore project, Sinosteel has already invested XAF120 billion, with first exports expected in July 2027. As regards exploitation of the Bipindi-Grand-Zambi iron ore mine in the Océan Divi - sion, South Region, operations commenced with a stockpile of over 600,000 tonnes of ore by the end of 2025. However, on a provisional basis, the com - mencement of actual production operations is sched - uled for the second half of 2026. Furthermore, the advancement of the Minim Martap industrial bauxite project, which is set to produce 6.4 million tonnes of bauxite over a 20-year lifespan, was Société Nationale des Mines (SONAMINES), which is mandated to safeguard the State’s interests in mining ventures, continues to assert its role as a strategic shareholder in key projects. It holds equity stakes in several mining companies, including Colomine Min - ing Corporation (Cominicor), Camalco Mining SA, and Sinosteel Corporation. In accordance with the Mining Code, the State is enti - tled to a non-dilutable free carried interest of 10% in the share capital of mining companies operating in Cameroon. Land Sector For many years, thousands of Cameroonians have cultivated land without any documentation recognised by the State. Land disputes represent one of the prin - officially launched on 22 March 2026. State participation and joint ventures
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