The 3-day event from 27-29 May 2015 at the Palais des Congres witnessed the active presence of over 1000 persons including participants and officials
By Essan-Ekoninyam in Yaounde
The 2015 edition of the Cameroon International Mining Exhibition and Conference – CIMEC 2015 ended on Friday May 29 with the organizers expressing satisfaction for a hitch-free and successful event.
The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, MINMIDT, Dr Fuh Calistus Gentry, who doubled as the chairman of the organizing committee of the CIMEC 2015, said this second edition of the event was hugely successful and met its set objectives especially as it witnessed the presence of over 1000 participants and officials: “WE had exploration companies, exploitation and transformation companies, analytical laboratories, logics companies, law firms, law experts, finance experts, NGOs etc,” Dr. Fuh observed, thanking the sponsors and partners of the MINMIDT, especially London-based Company AME TRADE, for ensuring that the event was a huge success.
The CIMEC 2015 was the 2nd ever to be organized in Cameroon. The first edition in May 2013 also recorded a huge success; it saw the convergence in Cameroon of mining experts and professionals from across the world to reflect on best practices and strategies to be adopted so that mining exploitation can better contribute to the development of Cameroon.
Dr. Fuh recalled the recommendations of CIMEC 2013 which called for an increase in Gold production through better mastery of the process of canalizing Gold from artisanal mining, and the effective take-off of industrial exploitation of Gold and Iron.
He said it is for these reasons that CIMEC 2015 had as theme: “sustainable development of the mining sector in Central Africa for present and future generations”. He noted that the objective is to make Cameroon a regional focal point for negotiations and transactions on industrial mining in Central Africa.
To attain this status the Cameroon government has put in place an enabling environment - attractive mining code, functional institutions, functional bilingualism and good security disposition, Dr. Fuh Calistus said, expressing the hope that with the successful holding of the CIMEC 2015 more and more companies will be attracted to come and invest in Cameroon’s mining sector. Read our interview with Minister Fuh Calistus on page 7.
Reaction
We’ll start exploiting Gold in 6 months
- Jack D. Rogoyski, exploration director CAMINCO
Caminco is a gold exploration and development mining company. We began exploration of gold in Borguene and Betare Oya since ten years ago. I think Cameroon’s potentials in gold are huge and attractive, even though the potentials are hidden because of the geomorphological and climatic conditions of some areas. The heavy rains have been washing away the gold over the years and this is a big challenge for exploration companies which have to spend more to find gold. However, we have had some good results; we are now in the process of improving those results so as to draw our mining plan. I should say we have finished with the exploration phase and are now in development, construction, and production. We have applied for an exploitation licence. We hope to obtain that within six months so as to start effective gold exploitation.
Cameroon’s iron potential is huge
- Anong Lydie, SINOSTEEL
SINOSTEEL is a Chinese company carrying out exploration and development of iron ore in Lolabe near Kribi in the South region. We have completed our exploration phase and are now up-dating the feasibility studies to begin exploitation. But to start exploitation we have to apply and negotiate a mining convention with the Cameroon government. We hope to be through with this in eighteen months. The mining law in Cameroon is quite attractive for investors. But I must say that there is too much speculation and exploitation projects are not taking-off as expected. That notwithstanding, the mining environment is quite attractive. So far only 40% of Cameroon’s iron potential has been explored, yet it is quite attractive. You can image what it will look like when the total potential would be explored.
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