Feature
The recent huge following in Yaounde from 27-29 May, 2015 to take advantage of the mining potentials of Cameroon left many who attended the event wondering why it had taken so long to get to that stage.
Meeting for the second edition of the International Conference and Exhibition on Mining in Cameroon, over 800 participants, 200 officials and economic operators in the mining sector from the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, West Africa, North America, Europe and Asia, not only had the occasion to reflect on what exists, but to find ways of harnessing the country’s mining possibilities.
Those who had the occasion to see what the rich subsoil of the country contains in terms of minerals, must have gone back with a clearer understanding of how wealthy Cameroon is, even if most people are yet to fully grasp the value and changes that the mining sector can make in their daily lives. The fact is that talk about the exploration and extraction of the mines in the country have gone on for decades without any palpable cases of mining contribution to the economy.
Gold, Nickel, cobalt, manganese and others are said to exist in abundance in the country. Those who went to school during the pre-independence days learnt about the mining potentials of Cameroon in their Geography lessons: the Mbalam Irone Ore, Betare Oya Gold, Mobilong diamond, and so on. Yet, more than 50 years after independence, the country remains at the rudimentary stage in its mining endeavours.
The localities where such wealth is said to be located remain largely underdeveloped with poorly maintained roads or simply neglected social, health and educational infrastructure. The wealth has even been a misfortune to some of the kids who have to abandon school to pursue artisanal extraction of the minerals for paltry financial reward. As such, foreign explorers tend to benefit from the rich subsoil more than the citizens.
Assurance during the Yaounde confab that the country will soon move to a formal exploitation of minerals must have sounded like a pipe dream to sceptics. But, coming from a government Minister, there could be no better authoritative voice to break the news.
The recent green light given to Cameroon as part of the Extractive Industry Certification is one of the positive indicators to count on. Secondly, the huge successes recorded during the two international gatherings on mining in the country could also signal renewed interest and reawakening towards a better management of the sector.
In addition, recent talks about the need to transform the national economy and enable Cameroon attain emergence by 2035 give reasons for the population to hope for better days.
Launching the second international forum in Yaounde last week on mining, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, sounded upbeat that the new government initiative would deliver on the aspirations of the country to make good use of existing national mineral wealth.
Although the problem of processing remains thorny given the heavy investments required, the Minister is still sanguine that the difficulties can nevertheless be surmounted. The fact that even the locally-initiated mining efforts can be improved alongside industrialisation, suggests that this is the best way forward to diversify the national economy.
Agriculture, timber, and crude oil have so far remained some of the major sources of foreign income for Cameroon. But with several major projects on course in the country and the dire need for funds, the mining sector is most viable alternative for the economy and it is about time that such initiatives as the just-ended Yaounde forum on mining should be encouraged.
