Minister Ngwaboubou visits CAPAM, SNI, Kimberley Secretariat

The Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Ernest Ngwaboubou, has carried out a maiden contact tour of some institutions in Yaounde under his auspices.

The series of visits began at the Small Scale Mining Support and Promotion Framework Unit (CAPAM), followed by the National Investment Company (SNI) and finally at the National Permanent Secretariat for the Kimberley Process in Cameroon.

Minister Ernest Ngwaboubou during a meeting with officials of each of the institutions had an appraisal of the missions, mode of function and challenges faced.

The contact tour kicked off at the newly constructed headquarters of the Small Scale Mining Support and Promotion Framework Unit (CAPAM) at the Omnisport neighbourhood in Mfandena – Yaounde.

During a guided tour of the different services, the Minister was informed that besides supporting small-scale miners, CAPAM’s missions has been expanded to include canalisation and the collection of government’s quota of 15% of all minerals exploited in the country.

In this light, 170,786.94 grams of gold has been collected and retroceded to the Ministry of Finance while about 47 kilograms collected recently are yet to be transferred. They give incentives and assistance to artisanal miners to canalise their promotion so that it is sold only in official channels.

They have also elaborated a cartographic map showing the geographical location and volumes of various types of Minerals in Cameroon’s subsoil but they are faced with the challenge of the legal status which does not give CAPAM the powers to sanction illegal exploiters of Cameroon’s minerals and those who sell to clandestine buyers.

The Minster also visited the National Investment Company (SNI) which was set up in 1964, charged with investments in profitable ventures and in government's development projects.

The Head of the institution told the Minister that the company has an investment in several projects including the renovation and construction of state-owned hotels especially in the wake of the national agropastoral show. The main challenge posed by the management of SNI is the lack of sufficient funds to invest in some major infrastructural projects initiated by the state.

The round of visits ended at the National Permanent Secretariat for the Kimberley Process in Cameroon. At the institution which is charged with the traceability of diamond and other precious stones, the Minister was guided through the processes used to trace Diamond from its point of exploitation to its final sale and equipment to test their origin, quality and quantity before they are certified. They, however, regretted the fact that the Kimberley Process in Cameroon currently does not trace all precious metals exploited in the country.

At the close of the visit, the Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Ernest Ngwaboubou, expressed satisfaction with the quality of service rendered by each of the institutions and promised greater collaboration with each of the structures.