Cameroon Minim Martap Bauxite Mine Plans to Start Production in 2026
As the owner of the Minim Martap mine in Cameroon, Australian firm Canyon Resources announced that it plans to start production of bauxite in 2026. The permit was secured in 2024 and a signing ceremony took place in Yaounde on 30 July 2024.
The definitive feasibility study (DFS) is expected to be completed in 3Q25. Canyon Resources underlined that the operationalization of the mine could not come at a better time as demand for aluminum is projected to increase by 40% by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs.
“The past six months have been transformative for Canyon. With initial infrastructure solutions in place and strong support from strategic partners and government, we have rapidly de-risked the project’s development.”
Canyon Resources CEO Jean Sebastien BOUTET
Currently, Canyon Resources is working to implement the mining operations which will necessitate substantial #FDI for heavy machinery. Additionally, the company is in talks with the Government of Cameroon to build a railway line to transport the bauxite from Minim Martap in Central Cameroon to the seaports of Douala and Kribi on the Atlantic Ocean.
At the start of February 2025, Canyon Resources that it has secured approval from the Government of Cameroon for its inland rail facility (IRF). The IRF will connect to Minim Martap mine to the existing rail station at Makor. Canyon’s local subsidiary Camalco has also been allocated a plot of 105 hectares of land for logistical development and future expansion. Actually, Canyon Resources has already initiated procedures to procure the rolling stock.
“As the global demand for bauxite grows and supply shortages loom, the strategic importance of this resource is becoming ever more apparent. Canyon is exceptionally well-positioned to capitalise on these market dynamics, and I am excited to contribute to unlocking the full potential of the Minim Martap project.”
Canyon Resources Incoming CEO Peter Secker
Canyon Resources has also made public its leadership transition plan with Peter Secker called upon to take over from Jean Sebastien Boutet on 1st of July 2025. The Government of Cameroon will retain at least a 10% shareholding in the mining company and will additionally charge a 5% royalty on the proceeds.
If all goes according to plan, Cameroon will join the ranks of Guinea, Ghana, Sierra Leone as bauxite producers in Africa. The Minim Martap mine will have an annual output of 6.4 million tonnes and a lifetime of 20 years.