Thread for Infrastructure development projects under construction on various sectors of economy and business(energy,transport,mines,...) in cameroon.


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DESCRIPTION ET ENJEUX DU PROJET D'AMENAGEMENT HYDROÉLECTRIQUE DE LOM PANGAR

Le projet Lom Pangar est localisé dans la Région de l’Est du Cameroun, plus précisément sur la rivière Lom à environ 4 km à l’aval de sa confluence avec le Pangar et à 120 km environ au nord de la ville de Bertoua. Le projet comprend notamment :

L’implantation d’un barrage muni d’un ouvrage de régulation des débits, d’un ouvrage de prise d’eau usine, d’un évacuateur de crues et d’une hausse fusible ;
Le développement, la construction, et le fonctionnement d’un réservoir de 6 milliards m3 et de 540 km2 ;
L’implantation d’une usine hydroélectrique de pied d’une puissance de 30 mégawatts, principalement pour alimenter la Région de l’Est ;
L’installation d’une ligne de transport de 90 KV d’une longueur d’environ 120 km entre le site du barrage et Bertoua ;
Le projet d’aménagement hydroélectrique de Lom Pangar requiert des installations annexes, préalables au démarrage des travaux de construction du barrage :

la construction d’une route entre Deng Deng et le site du barrage ;
la construction d’une cité du maître d’ouvrage en rive gauche du Lom et les installations de chantier temporaires en rive droite ;
l’installation d’un pont temporaire de franchissement de la rive à gauche à la rive droite à proximité du barrage. Tous ces aménagements constituent les travaux préparatoires à réaliser avant le démarrage des travaux de construction de l’ouvrage proprement dit.
Objectifs du projet Lom Pangar
Le barrage réservoir de Lom Pangar permettra de compléter la régularisation de la Sanaga pour l’optimisation de la production des centrales existantes, et créer des conditions favorisant l’aménagement de nouveaux sites nombreux et importants à l’aval, à des conditions économiques intéressantes. En effet, la retenue de Lom Pangar augmentera le débit régularisé de la Sanaga à plus de 1.000 m3/s à l’amont de SONG LOULOU de façon à saturer son débit d’équipement et d’augmenter la production d’EDEA en période d’étiage, soit 160 MW produits par les deux ouvrages. À ce titre, le projet de barrage réservoir constitue la pièce maîtresse de la stratégie du Gouvernement pour assurer à moyen et long terme l’approvisionnement en électricité du pays au moindre coût. En réalisant cet aménagement avec l’appui des institutions internationales, le Gouvernement veut s’assurer de la sureté des installations et optimiser les impacts du projet sur le plan environnemental et socio-économique.

Description du barrage réservoir
Le barrage est du type mixte. Il comporte une section en béton sur la rivière qui regroupe les fonctions hydrauliques du barrage ainsi que deux ailes en terre qui assurent la fermeture des rives. Il est complété par une digue de col qui ferme une dépression topographique en rive droite du barrage. L’emprise de la retenue aura une superficie maximale de 590 km² pour une capacité utile de stockage de 6 milliards de m3.


Maquette 3D du projet d’aménagement hydroélectrique de Lom Pangar

http://edc-cameroon.org/IMG/jpg/lompangar-2.jpg


Les Pouvoirs Publics ont pris l’option de réaliser une usine de pied en même temps que le barrage. Elle sera équipée de 4 groupes d’une puissance nominale unitaire de 7,4 MW, soit une puissance totale de 30 MW. L’énergie sera évacuée sur Bertoua par une ligne haute tension. Le développement de Lom Pangar s’inscrit dans la continuité du développement du potentiel hydroélectrique de la Sanaga après la construction des centrales d’Edéa dans les années 1950 et de Song-loulou entre 1981 et 1988, ainsi que des barrages réservoirs de Mbakaou en 1969, Bamendjin en 1974 et Mape en 1988. La possibilité qu’offre le bassin versant de la Sanaga d’aménager des réservoirs en amont, permet au fur et à mesure des mises en service de renforcer le débit régulé garanti du fleuve pendant l’étiage. Elle permet également de donner une réponse à la baisse tendancielle des apports de la Sanaga observée ces dernières années. Toutes les études de planification effectuées ces dernières années sur le réseau interconnecté-sud concluent que Lom Pangar est l’ouvrage le plus important en termes de capacité de stockage qui puisse être réalisé dans le bassin de la Sanaga.

Cam boy when did you join this forum. How you going Brother?

Good economic news.

Le barrage de Lom pangar a franchi, le 12 Août dernier, l’étape décisive et irréversible, avec la signature du contrat de construction et de mise en service, de l’ouvrage, entre Electricity Development Corporatin (EDC), Maître d’ouvrage du projet et la China International Water & Electric Corp. (CWE), l’Entrepreneur.

Cette importante cérémonie, qui s’est tenue au Hilton hotel, était présidée par le ministre de l’Energie et de l’Eau (Minee), M. Micheal NGAKO TOMDIO, en présence du Représentant de CWE, du Directeur Géneral de EDC, et d’autres membres du gouvernement, notamment le ministre de l’Industrie, des Mines et du Développement technologique, du Secrétaire d’Etat aux Forêts, du Gouverneur de la région de l’Est, des bailleurs de fonds, et des administrateurs de EDC.

La cérémonie s’est ouverte sur la signature des contrats par M. Jiang Hui Wen, Représentant de la CWE, et Dr Théodore NSANGOU, Directeur Général de EDC. S’en est suivie l’allocution du DG EDC, puis du Représentant de CWE et enfin le discours du Minee.


« C’est l’aboutissement d’un long processus, démarré en Janvier 2010… » a tenu à préciser M. Theodore NSANGOU, détendu et visiblement satisfait par ce qui venait d’être entrepris. La China International Water and Electric Corp. comme l’a rappelé son Représentant, est une société riche d’expérience, dans le domaine de la construction des barrages en Afrique ; elle a réalisé à titre d’exemple la construction du barrage de Lagdo qui fonctionne depuis 30 ans, et réalise encore d’autres travaux dont celui du Canal du Mfoundi à Yaoundé. Sur le plan international, elle a construit le barrage des 3 Gorges en Chine, le plus grand barrage au monde. C’est donc une entreprise pétrie d’expérience, qui mettra sur pied, durant les 38 prochains mois, le barrage tant attendu par la Nation toute entière. Notons que le budget alloué à la construction de cet ouvrage, s’élève à 74,6 milliards de francs CFA, et que les travaux devraient débuter au mois Novembre 2011 et prendront fin en juillet 2014 avec la mise en eau de l’ouvrage.

L’entrepreneur, s’engage dans le contrat, à mettre en place un plan de recrutement d’une main d’œuvre au niveau local et national, l’industrie camerounaise aussi sera sollicitée de manière préférentielle pour la fabrication des matériaux et des produits nécessaires à l’exécution des travaux. Au total, EDC escompte le recrutement d’environ mille personnes. Que d’espoirs pour la croissance économique et pour le développement de la Région de l’Est, et de notre pays tout entier !

C’est donc, « le début de la phase de réalisation de ce grand projet annoncé par le Chef de l’Etat… » comme l’a martelé le Ministre de l’Energie et de l’Eau, dans son discours.

Lom Pangar, quand le rêve devient réalité….

EDC Division de la Communication

Galerie photos du chantier de la cité du maitre d’ouvrage du Barrage de Lom Pangar

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Image futuriste du barrage de Lom Pangar

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Finally a Cameroonian.
Keep this up to date brotha !!

Hmm smells like elections are coming.

Hmm smells like elections are coming.

Lol. i thought the same.

Hmm smells like elections are coming.

LMAO, Yep, its elections.

As if a thread in SSCA will influence the results. :lol:

Cam boy when did you join this forum. How you going Brother?

Good economic news.

I'm for a long time in this forum. I've the will to show the projects of infrastructures that it's ongoing now in cameroon and give some news about doing business in our country.

Hmm smells like elections are coming.

It's not because of the elections that these projects are underconstruction in cameroon they are for a while already in process !:)

Some news about the deep seaport of Kribi in south region of Cameroon

AMBITIONS :LE PORT QUI DOIT DÉVELOPPER LE CAMEROUN
Mardi, 12 Juillet 2011 08:36

Priorité parmi les priorités du programme de l’émergence en 2035, la construction du port de Kribi est souvent présentée comme la pièce fondamentale de l’envol de l’économie camerounaise.Les travaux de construction sont à peine entamés que déjà, Kribi veut se positionner



parmi ses concurrents directs que sont Malabo en Guinée Equatoriale et Pointe-Noire au Congo. Troisième port en eau profonde à voir le jour dans la sous région Afrique centrale, sa mise en service doit permettre au moins une avancée majeure : permettre au Cameroun d’exister en tant que place portuaire de référence.Avec une profondeur de 15 mètres, il pourra recevoir les plus gros navires qui existent au monde. Le vieux port de Douala, construit sur l’estuaire du fleuve Wouri, ne peut s’autoriser pareille performance avec ses 8 mètres maximum de profondeur. Une bonne affaire donc, qui, outre qu’elle vient densifier la concurrence dans la sous-région, doit surtout impulser la mise en valeur et donc le développement de l’important potentiel camerounais.



Terminaux spécialisés

Mieux encore que Douala, qui est une plateforme essentiellement vouée aux échanges, le port de Kribi se présente davantage comme un complexe industrialo-portuaire, combinant à la fois les activités commerciales et de production. Outre le port général (terminal polyvalent + terminal à conteneurs), quatre terminaux spécialisés et deux zones industrielles devraient y être incorporées. Objectif : exploiter, sur la côte, les richesses naturelles de l’Hinterland camerounais. Pour cela, un financement innovant a été trouvé, avec la participation des entreprises pressenties pour cette exploitation. Ainsi le port minéralier de Lolabé se situe-t-il au débouché du chemin de fer Kribi-Mbalam, par où doit transiter la production de fer et autres minerais de cette dernière localité. La société Cam Iron, pressentie pour l’exploitation de ces minerais, a participé à son financement.

Une usine à aluminium aussi devrait être construite au lieu dit Boussibelika. Le géant mondial de l’aluminium, Rio Tinto Alcan, qui participe à son financement, doit y installer une unité, avec un objectif de production chiffré à 400 000 tonnes par an. De même, outre le terminal à hydrocarbures au financement duquel elle participe, la Société nationale des hydrocarbures (Snh), prévoit d’installer sur place une usine de liquéfaction de gaz. Effets induits de ce foisonnement : l’emploi, et surtout la croissance qui, d’après certains experts, pourrait s’élever de deux points et atteindre, si elle est soutenue, des niveaux susceptibles de conduire à l’émergence économique.

Port de Douala

Toutes ces spécialisations sont liées à des projets en cours ou à venir, consignés dans le Dsce. Qu’il s’agisse de l’exploitation du fer de Mbalam, du nickel et du cobalt de Lomié, ou encore de l’extension de l’usine Alucam d’Edéa. Toutes choses qui font de ce port de Kribi le cœur du développement de la région et du pays tout entier.

Le port de Douala, qui concentre jusqu’ici l’essentiel de l’activité portuaire du Cameroun pourrait-il y survivre ? Même si une baisse de ses activités est inéluctable, les autorités veulent rassurer. « Le Port de Douala va continuer à assurer la desserte de son hinterland. La cité portuaire jouit d’un épais tissu économique, avec une main d’œuvre abondante », déclarait le secrétaire permanent du comité consultatif de ce port, Gabriel Mbarga Mbarga, au terme d’un diner débat organisé le 06 juillet dernier à Douala. L’on parle de plus en plus d’une spécialisation de la place portuaire, Douala conservant son rôle de port commercial et principal réceptacle des conteneurs. A la différence de Kribi et Limbé que les atouts prédisposent à jouer un rôle d’une plus grande ampleur.

Réaction

Grégoire Mba Mba:« Les populations ne doivent pas se sentir dépaysées »

Représentant des populations au sein du comité de pilotage et de suivi, il fait le point sur les revendications et les avancées de la procédure d’indemnisation et de relocalisation.

Il y a eu un problème lors des indemnisations des populations. Où en est-on avec cette question ?

En ce qui concerne les indemnisations, il y a eu une première phase qui a été arrêtée parce qu’on voulait vérifier si les titres fonciers étaient valables ou pas. Après ce contrôle, l’Etat a lancé une deuxième vague qui est en cours. Toutes ces populations ne sont pas encore indemnisées. On a parlé de 20 milliards. Pour l’instant, ceux-ci n’ont pas encore été débloqués. Mais l’Etat a demandé que tous les villages de la zone de la Kienké puissent être indemnisés, surtout les populations autochtones qui le sont déjà à 60%.

A-t-on une idée du nombre de personnes à recaser ?

On parle de 300 familles, mais vous connaissez la famille africaine. Il y a des gens qui sont à Douala ou à Yaoundé (dans les grandes villes) qui n’ont pas été comptabilisés. On essaie de les évaluer et de faire en sorte que ces populations (surtout celles de la côte) puissent se retrouver dans leur milieu naturel. Au lieu de faire un terrassement sur un terrain vague, on préfère donner des parcelles. Par exemple si vous êtes dans une zone, on peut vous donner 3 000 m2 à construire. En face, vous avez une autre parcelle pour faire de l’agriculture si vous voulez en faire la culture ; mais ce terrain vous ne pouvez pas le vendre. Notre rôle c’est de veiller à ce que les populations se retrouvent dans ce recasement. Qu’elles aient leur milieu naturel car elles ne doivent pas se sentir dépaysées. Ce sont là les enjeux.

Va-t-on encore assister à des arrêts de travaux comme cela a été le cas au début sur le site de construction du port ?

Ce n’est pas notre souhait. Notre souci est d’accompagner le chef de l’Etat dans la réalisation de ce projet, de veiller à ce que les populations riveraines puissent en bénéficier, qu’une économie puisse être créée autour de ce projet et que celui-ci ait un volet social important. C’est ça que nous sommes en train de faire et c’est pour ça que nous veillons à ce que, dans la relocalisation, ces populations se retrouvent dans leur milieu naturel en donnant par famille 3 000m2 de parcelle. On ne peut pas recaser toutes les populations à un seul endroit car il y a plusieurs villages. Pour l’instant on est en train de détecter les zones [trois zones ont déjà été répertoriées : une zone nord, une zone sud et une zone intérieure, ndlr].

Y a-t-il déjà une date pour le transfert des populations vers ces sites de recasement ?

On attend le début des travaux d’ici deux mois, mais nous veillons. Nos populations ont un problème, c’est qu’il y a des morts et elles n’arrivent pas à savoir où les enterrer. Donc il faut déjà trouver du terrain et faire en sorte qu’on puisse enterrer ces morts-là. Nous avons créé un forum pour toutes les populations des zones de la Lobé. Nous allons nous retrouver à Kribi pendant trois jours (les 11, 12 et 13 juillet, ndlr), pour réfléchir à l’idée de savoir comment on va les accompagner dans ce projet, comment on va les relocaliser. C’est une réunion très importante.

Propos recueillis par S-L.N


http://www.lanouvelleexpression.info/images/image/Port%20Kribi.jpg

some others fresh news of the construction of that deep seaport in Kribi


PORT DE KRIBI :AU RYTHME DES CAMIONS ET DES PELLETEUSES

Les travaux de terrassements généraux déjà bien avancés, le chantier de construction proprement dit devrait commencer dès la fin de ce mois de juillet, d’après les assurances de la société chinoise chargée des travaux. Mboro, épaisse forêt dans le voisinage de la cité balnéaire de



Kribi. Sur ce front de mer balayé par le vent froid qui vient de l’océan Atlantique, les engins de la société Razel s’activent. Des camions, appuyés par des pelleteuses, transportent la terre qui va servir aux remblais du site. Petit à petit, les grands arbres qui dominaient il y a peu encore la végétation du coin, cèdent la place à un espace aménagé.Ici se construit la plateforme devant recevoir les installations portuaires, industrielles et sociales. D’une superficie de 54 hectares, celle-ci doit servir à stocker le matériel nécessaire pour la construction du port. Ce vendredi 08 juillet 2011, l’opération de défrichage et de désherbage est déjà terminée, d’après les explications du chef de projet Louis Nlend Banack. Le temps est maintenant aux déblais et remblais qui doivent permettre d’obtenir un relief uniforme. Une opération qui ne se fait pas sans heurts.



Marécages

Les études préalables en avaient sous estimé la quantité, mais la forte présence des marécages semble être l’écueil le plus tenace pour les ouvriers. 16 hectares au total qui nécessitent un traitement particulier. « Cela nous oblige à aller en profondeur dans le sol pour extirper le mauvais matériau et le remplacer par le bon [ du sable de mer et de la terre, ndlr] que nous trouvons heureusement tout près d’ici », explique André Demauve, chef de mission de contrôle chez Louis Berger, une entreprise chargée de superviser et de veiller au bon déroulement des travaux.

Sur les 54 hectares que mesure la plateforme, 24 sont déjà traités. Ces travaux de terrassements généraux, commencés il y a sept mois, doivent s’achever intégralement en décembre 2011. Mais la portion déjà réalisée devrait être suffisante pour que commencent enfin les travaux de construction proprement dits du port en eau profonde de Kribi. D’après le chronogramme de développement du projet, ce mois de juillet doit voir également le début des travaux de réhabilitation de la route d’accès au site portuaire. La signalisation appropriée est désormais visible sur ce trajet (l’axe routier non bitumé Kribi-Campo, ndlr), de même qu’une déviation. Certains ponts aussi ont été refaits.

Etudes complémentaires

Sur les six kilomètres d’envergure d’installation portuaire, les travaux déjà réalisés portent sur la moitié. La China Harbour Engineering Company (Chec) qui doit réaliser les travaux, affirme que son matériel technique est déjà disponible au port de Douala. Celui-ci est constitué notamment des équipements pour la plateforme en construction, du matériel de laboratoire et du matériel de sondage. Toute disposition qui rend le début des travaux imminent, même si sur place, la zone d’installation des ouvriers de cette entreprise reste à construire.

Pour le moment, le n°1 chinois de la construction portuaire s’attèle à affiner ses études. « Nous sommes en train de faire des études complémentaires. Il s’agit des études géographiques, géotechniques, altimétriques, etc. Ceci va nous permettre de raffiner et de finaliser nos études détaillées avant l’exécution des travaux», rassure Zhao Yang, le coordonnateur chinois du projet. La première phase des travaux, dont il annonce le début à la fin de ce mois de juillet 2011, prévoit notamment la construction d’un chenal d’accès, d’une digue de protection, des quais d’accostage, des remblais à l’arrière de ces quais pour la constitution des aires d’entreposage, ainsi que les divers réseaux et accès directs au port.



Réactions



Louis Nlend Banack (coordonnateur du projet):« Le premier navire en 2014 »

Le gouvernement a obtenu de la République populaire de Chine un prêt, à travers la banque Eximbank, d’un montant de 207 milliards de Fcfa pour la construction de la première phase du port général. Ces travaux sont en train de démarrer. Ils devraient durer 36 mois. Nous faisons confiance à la partie chinoise parce qu’elle a une expertise avérée. Dans 36 mois elle aura achevé son travail. Ce programme permettra la mise à disposition de deux terminaux opérationnels, un terminal polyvalent et un terminal conteneurs. Donc en 2014, nous avons grande confiance que des navires à forts tirants d’eau vont charger et décharger des marchandises au port en eau profonde de Kribi.

Zhao Yang, (coordonnateur du projet):« Nous avons déjà terminé 60% des études en mer »

Nous sommes en train de faire des études complémentaires. Il s’agit des études géographiques, géotechniques, altimétriques, etc. Elles vont nous prendre encore quelques mois. Mais en gros, nous avons déjà terminé 60% des études en mer, les études sur terre sont aussi en cours. Ceci va nous permettre de raffiner et de finaliser nos études détaillées avant l’exécution des travaux. Nous intervenons sur le site depuis le mois d’avril. Au fur et à mesure du développement du projet, nous serons plus visibles. Sur le terrain, il n’y a pas vraiment de grosses difficultés, c’est surtout au niveau des études. Pour faire le développement, c’est un peu difficile. Notre équipe est en train d’arriver, notre équipement est en mer.

some images

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Cameroun : Kribi, côté investisseurs...
29/09/2011 à 17h:20 Par Georges Dougueli

Alors que s’engage la construction du port en eau profonde, nombre d’opérateurs affluent dans la région.
Lolabé, à près de 35 km au sud de Kribi. La rumeur des vagues est dominée par le grondement des bulldozers, pelleteuses et camions qui repoussent la forêt littorale camerounaise. Pour l’instant, le chantier du port en eau profonde, l’un des plus importants projets d’équipement lancés au Cameroun, n’est encore qu’une vaste clairière. Vétéran du BTP en Afrique, le français Razel est chargé de réaliser les travaux de terrassement. Dans quelques semaines, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) prendra le relais pour entamer les titanesques travaux d’ingénierie portuaire, dont la construction d’une digue artificielle de près de 3 km pour protéger les futurs bassins de la houle. Dans le même temps, le dragage de 11 millions de m3 permettra d’atteindre la profondeur souhaitée pour le chenal et les darses et fournira le remblai nécessaire pour les terre-pleins.
"un très bon investissement"
L’ouvrage, d’un coût de 282 milliards de F CFA (près de 430 millions d’euros), sera financé en grande partie par China Exim Bank, qui a consenti un crédit commercial dont la garantie de remboursement repose sur les profits générés par l’activité du complexe portuaire. « Avec un taux de rentabilité estimé à 16 %, c’est un très bon investissement pour eux », explique un expert du ministère camerounais de l’Économie.
Grâce à son port et aux infrastructures en cours de construction dans sa périphérie, Kribi devrait drainer le trafic de marchandises en provenance du Congo, de Centrafrique et du Tchad, et devenir un concurrent direct pour Pointe-Noire (Congo) et Malabo (Guinée équatoriale).
Mais au-delà de la construction du port, c’est un vaste pôle de développement qui s’organise autour de Kribi, notamment dans les secteurs minier et agro-industriel. Avec une température supérieure à 18 °C, un taux d’humidité supérieur à 80 %, plus de 2 000 mm de précipitations par an et cinq heures de soleil par jour, cette région littorale, relativement peu peuplée, est favorable au développement de vastes exploitations d’hévéas, de palmiers à huile, de bananiers, entre autres.
L’agro-industrie en force
Plusieurs opérateurs y sont déjà présents. La société Hévéa du Cameroun (Hevecam) exploite des milliers d’hectares de plantations à Niété, où ses usines transforment le latex en caoutchouc. La Société camerounaise de palmeraies (Socapalm, filiale du groupe Bolloré), qui détient 42 % du marché local de l’huile de palme brute, envisage de rajeunir ses plantations de palmiers, de moderniser ses huileries et de se diversifier en augmentant de 1 500 ha sa surface de culture d’hévéas.
De nouveaux acteurs se positionnent pour s’implanter dans la région. Le plus ambitieux d’entre eux est sans doute le singapourien Biopalm Energy, filiale de Siva Group, qui a lancé le 24 août dernier un projet de 900 milliards de F CFA (1,37 milliard d’euros) d’investissements pour l’exploitation de 200 000 ha de palmeraies réparties entre les localités de Béla (près de Kribi), Lolodorf et Akom II, plus au sud.
... et côté VIP
La cité balnéaire ne séduit pas que les industriels. Ses plages et la forêt qui l’entoure attirent les touristes, illustres ou anonymes.
Des célébrités lui sont attachées, comme l’ex-tennisman et chanteur Yannick Noah, qui a été fait citoyen d’honneur de Kribi en 2005. Il y vient régulièrement et aime arpenter pieds nus ses plages de sable clair, sur lesquelles il a tourné une partie du clip de Saga Africa. Le footballeur Samuel Eto’o a également droit aux honneurs de la cité. Il a acquis 7 ha de terrain à Ebome, à 5 km du centre-ville.
Mémoire et farniente
L’attrait de la station balnéaire pour les vacanciers, illustres ou anonymes, ne se dément pas. Les Camerounais de l’étranger affluent pour s’y reposer ou célébrer des mariages. Les Africains-Américains à la recherche de leurs racines viennent y méditer sur les conditions du départ de leurs ancêtres victimes de la traite négrière. D’autres visitent les vestiges de la colonisation allemande, nombreux dans la région où, chaque mois de mai, le carnaval Mayi commémore le déplacement des populations prises entre le feu allemand et celui des troupes franco-britanniques pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Tandis que de plus en plus d’écotouristes se laissent envoûter par l’extraordinaire biodiversité du parc national voisin de Campo Ma’an.
Les classes moyennes de Yaoundé aiment aussi se retrouver à Kribi en fin de semaine. La mode est à l’achat de résidences secondaires sur la bande côtière, où la pression foncière croissante fait exploser les prix et le nombre de litiges. On achète aussi des terrains dans l’hinterland, dans un rayon de près de 40 km autour de Kribi, où le charme de la nature encore sauvage attire des people en quête de tranquillité et des expatriés, pour la plupart retraités.G.D


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Cameroun : La Centrale à gaz de Kribi en route
– 4 JUIN 2011
POSTED IN: A LA UNE, ECONOMIE, INTERNATIONAL

Libreville, 4 Juin 2011 (Infos Gabon) – 60 milliards de francs Cfa, c’est le montant alloué à l’entreprise Kribi Power Development Compagny (KPDC) par le gouvernement camerounais pour le financement des travaux de construction de la Centrale à gaz de la ville de Kribi grâce à une convention de prêt-relais signée avec le concours de plusieurs banques locales.

Grâce à ce crédit, KPDC devra accélérer les travaux de construction de la centrale thermique à gaz de Kribi d’une capacité de 216 MW dont le coût est évalué à 176, 269 milliards de francs CFA avec des financements à long terme attendus des bailleurs de fonds internationaux.

Pour le ministre des Finances, « cette enveloppe va permettre la mise en service de la centrale de Kribi dans les délais requis, au plus tard en septembre 2012, de manière à résorber le déficit énergétique que connaît notre pays et partant d’améliorer l’offre d’énergie ».

La signature de cette convention n’aura pas été facile car elle aura rencontré plusieurs réserves de la part de nombreux responsables de banques à apposer leur signature au bas des documents lors de la cérémonie officielle de signature de ladite convention de prêt-relais après trois mois de longues et sérieuses discussions entre le gouvernement représenté par le ministère des Finances, le groupe Aes et le consortium des banques dirigé par Ecobank.

Au titre des garanties de remboursement de cette convention de prêt relais les banques ont obtenu la signature de la convention de rémunération entre la République du Cameroun et KPDC dans laquelle cette dernière accorde à l’Etat du Cameroun une rémunération de 0,35% du montant alloué pour son implication dans le processus.

Puis, l’acte de promesse de nantissement d’action détenue par Aes Kribi Holding BV qui pourra, en cas de défaut dans le paiement, entraîner l’hypothèque de 56 % du capital de la société Aes Corporation. Cette promesse d’hypothèque met en gage les seize hectares de terrain sur lesquels sont en train d’être érigés ladite centrale et l’ensemble des équipements qui y seront construits, en cas de non remboursement du prêt alloué à KPDC. Le tout coiffé par la convention de prêt-relais signé entre l’entreprise KPDC et la syndication des banques.

Francis Hans Sim Nag, directeur général de KPDC, qui se réjouit de cette enveloppe est conscient de ce qu’il faut appuyer sur l’accélérateur pour pouvoir livrer ladite infrastructure à temps.

http://infosgabon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Centrale-%C3%A0-gaz-de-Kribi-351x190.jpg

And what will they do for the English speaking population?
Nothing as usual?

Singapore's Siva Group in Cameroon $1.9 bln palm oil deal

YAOUNDE (Reuters) - 24 AUG 2011
© Reuters
3 Réactions
Biopalm Energy, a subsidiary of Singapore's Siva group will on Wednesday launch a 900 billion CFA Francs palm oil investment project in the south of Cameroon, an official of the country's agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.

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The 200,000 hectares greenfield project will be jointly developed with the Central African nation's National Investment Corporation, the official said, requesting not to be named.

"The project will cost an estimated 900 billion CFA francs in foreign direct investments," the official said.

He said the mill would increase Cameroon's yearly palm oil production by 80,000 tonnes within the first five years of production, and would add about 30 billion CFA francs to crude-producing nation's yearly revenue.

Neither Siva Group nor Biopalm Energy could be reached for comments, however, Biopalm lists Cameroon and several other African countries including Ghana, Sierra Leone Ivory Coast and DR Congo as places it was in the process of acquiring greenfield land for palm oil production.

The company said on its website that the highly profitable world market for palm oil is projected to exceed 100 million tonnes by 2015.

Cameroon, which has seen its modest oil production decline to about 64,000 barrels per day from 185,000 bpd due to maturing fields, wants to explore other areas for foreign investments.

Its palm oil sector has attracted several industry majors. New York-based agricultural company Herakles Farms plans to develop some 60,000 hectares of oil palm plantations in the country, while Malaysia's Sime Darby is said to be considering a $2.5 billion plantation expansion deal.

Several environmental groups have however, raised concerns that the rapid expansion of agro-industries could not only threaten some of the Cameroon's unspoiled rainforest, but also the livelihood of the local population.

Australian environmental group Rainforest Rescue has launched an online petition aimed at pressuring the Cameroonian government to reconsider Herakles' planned project which they said could destroy plant and animal species, a charge the firm has rejected.

Cameroon cement producer to double capacity

YAOUNDE, Sept 23, 2011 (Reuters)
© Reuters
1 Réactions
Cameroon's lone cement-maker Cimenteries du Cameroon (CIMENCAM) said on Friday it had started work on a third plant which if completed, would double its total output to about 1.5 million tonnes annually.

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Cameroon's lone cement-maker Cimenteries du Cameroon (CIMENCAM) said on Friday it had started work on a third plant which if completed, would double its total output to about 1.5 million tonnes annually.

The announcement of the 50 billion CFA francs ($103 million) investment comes two days after Nigerian cement manufacturer Dangote said it will construct a rival $115 million plant and that it was eyeing another $585 million investment in Central African region's biggest economy, about to undergo a major infrastructure drive.

CIMENCAM's new plant will produce between 600,000 to 700,000 tonnes of cement annually to cater for local market of about 1.6 to 2 million tonnes per year, and growing by 8 percent annually. Cameroon also supplies countries in the region such as Chad, Central African Republic and Gabon.

Cameroon's Minister for Industry, Badel Ndanga Ndinga, said at the foundation-laying ceremony that demand for cement is expected to grow exponentially as the country starts its massive infrastructure and construction projects such as a deep sea port in the south of the country and hydroelectric power stations at Lom Pangar and Memve'ele.

CIMENCAM's director general Ravi Iyer said the new plant was expected to begin production in 2014. ($1 = 485.229 CFA Francs) (Reporting by Tansa Musa; Writing by Bate Felix)

ECONOMIE: Une usine de transformation du manioc annoncée à Bamenda

DOUALA - 08 SEPT. 2011
© Donat SUFFO | Le Messager
4 Réactions
"...la chambre de commerce, avec l’aide du gouvernement et particulièrement du chef de l’Etat, a donné son accord pour qu’on implante dans la plupart des régions du Cameroun, les usines de transformation de manioc, car la demande était très importante..."

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«Je l'ai dit, je le confirme ici, la chambre de commerce, avec l’aide du gouvernement et particulièrement du chef de l’Etat, a donné son accord pour qu’on implante dans la plupart des régions du Cameroun, les usines de transformation de manioc, car la demande était très importante».

Ces propos sont de Christophe Eken, président de la chambre de conseil, de l’industrie, des mines et de l’artisanat (Ccima) en visite de travail à Bamenda. «Nous sommes arrivés à la détermination de nous lancer dans la transformation des produits de crue. Bamenda est très fertile et nous sommes venus présenter ce projet de transformation du manioc aux opérateurs économiques du Nord Ouest», poursuit-il. C’était lundi dernier 05 septembre, dans la salle des conférences de la délégation régionale de Ccima. En présentant un échantillon de « Akwakwa », semoule de manioc (produite par le centre d’incubation pilote de la Ccima à Douala), aux opérateurs économiques du Nord Ouest, Christophe Eken leur a demande de saisir cette perche ce d’autant que la production actuelle est insignifiante, pour une demande qui tourne autour de 40 mille tonnes pour la ville de Douala, 500 mille tonnes pour le Cameroun et près de 2 millions de tonnes dans le monde. «Notre rôle à la Ccima est d’initier ce genre de projets. Nous avons décidé d'accompagner pendant cinq ans les opérateurs économiques qui vont s’intéresser», a déclaré le président de la Ccima pour qui des moyens financiers subséquents seront mis en jeu pour soutenir les jeunes qui veulent se lancer dans la culture industrielle de ce tubercule.

Avec le corridor Bamenda – Mamfe - Ekok - Enugu au Nigeria qui sera opérationnel d'ici 2013, la ville de Bamenda court le risque de la vie chère, faute de satisfaire à la forte demande interne et des pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Il a convié les opérateurs économiques de la région à investir dès maintenant dans ce secteur porteur de devises pour eux. Le grand marché Ouest Africain est une opportunité pour eux.

En dehors de la semoule de manioc, Christophe Eken a rappelé aux hommes d’affaires qu’ils pourront même commercialiser l’amidon du manioc qui rentre également dans la fabrication de la bière, la gélatine, du carton ect.

Il a fait de la lutte contre la pauvreté et surtout de la famine son cheval de bataille dès lors qu’il arrive à la tête de Ccima en février 2008, en pleines émeutes de la faim. C’est ce qui explique la création dont la pose de la première pierre se fera «d’ici un mois à Ngoulemakong dans le Sud».

Répondant aux doléances du délégué régional Abanda Mathias Saya du Ccima Nord-Ouest qui sollicite l’organisation de la foire commerciale de Bamenda, Christophe Eken a donné son accord de principe. Dès avril 2012, la ville de Bamenda va accueillir sa première foire commerciale organisée par la Ccima. Laquelle foire viendra booster l’activité économique de la région. La délégation que conduisait le président du Ccima a porté ces nouvelles aussi bien au Gouverneur de la région Abakar Ahamat, qu’au délégué du gouvernement auprès de la communauté urbaine de Bamenda, Vincent Ndumu Nji. Le premier citoyen de la région du Nord-ouest a salué cette initiative de la Ccima et promis d'apporter une collaboration pour le succès de ces deux projets d'envergure

La délégation régionale de Ccima Nord-ouest à sollicité du président de Ccima, l’acquisition d’un terrain et la construction d’un magasin de stockage des marchandises sur le corridor Mamfe - Nigeria. Les entrées tirées de la mise en location de ces magasins à la disposition des opérateurs économiques nigérian et camerounais, permettrons à la Ccima de faire fonctionner ses activités. Aussi, Abanda Mathias Saya a-t-il suggéré la nécessité, de la construction d'un édifice qui abritera les services de la délégation régionale de Ccima Nord-Ouest. Christophe Eken a même visité le site de 3000 m2, situé à un jet de pierre de l'hôtel Ayaba, qui accueille ces services. Le terrassement et le nivellement de ce terrain ont été déjà faits, Abanda Mathias Saya demande au président de la Ccima «d’inclure la construction de cette délégation dans la priorité de ses projets ». «Last but not the least», il a également sollicité l’augmentation du nombre des opérateurs économiques du Nord-Ouest au sein de l’assemblée plénière de la Ccima, soit «de dix membres» sur les 160 que compte présentement la chambre. Sur ce point Christophe Eken a laissé entendre que l’important n’est pas seulement que l'important n'est pas seulement d'ajouter le nombre de membres du Nord-ouest, mais ceux qui y entrent doivent s'investir dans le travail et non faire de la simple figuration.

Au delà de ces annonces, Christophe Eken a demandé aux hommes d'affaires du Nord-ouest de « s’unir et d'être bien informés parce que souvent, la mauvaise information fait (et nous nous sommes rendus compte dans la salle) qu'il y ait des idées qui ne sont pas toujours de bonnes.». Les échanges ont permis aux opérateurs économiques de comprendre les missions de la Ccima.

Botswana Diamonds awarded Cameroon exploration licence
Botswana Diamonds (LON:BOD) is planning a bulk sampling programme in Cameroon after it was awarded a 430 square kilometre exploration licence, the firm revealed today.
Following an initial reconnaissance by the firm on its 8,087 Libongo licence, which had been awarded to Botswana Diamonds earlier in the year, the firm applied for and obtained the broader licence. The balance of the reconnaissance licence remains valid, the firm said, and work is progressing with further portions able to be converted to exploration licences.
The new licence covers the ground where paleo-conglomerates have been identified. It is valid for four years and is renewable for multiple periods of four years. The licence ensures exclusive rights to prospect and also gives the holder priority for later conversion of the licence to a mining concession.
The firm’s planned bulk sampling programme, due to begin before the end of 2011 but after the rainy season, will determine whether the conglomerate occurrence on Botswana Diamonds’ ground is also diamondiferous.
In Botswana, the firm said its Prospecting Licence No. 04/2002 has been extended for a period of 12 months. This licence covers the AK8, AK9 and BK5 kimberlites.
Processing of samples from AK8 and BK5 are now complete. After a total of 883 tonnes of kimberlite was processed from AK8 some 11.03 carats were recovered, which translates to a grade of 1.25 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht). This is significantly below that reported from previous work by De Beers and African Diamonds.



The diamonds will be sent for valuation during this month, but the firm said it is most unlikely that the diamond values will be high enough to make the kimberlite commercial at the current grade.
At BK5 a total of 547 tonnes of kimberlite material was treated from historical stockpile material, while a total of 772 tonnes was treated form trenches excavated by Botswana Diamonds. The firm said that processing of this material yielded no diamonds.
AK9 is overlaid by a thick basalt breccias cap and the firm is reclogging the core to better understand the geology here at depth. It believes there are significant differences between micro diamond and macro diamond grade estimates and wants to understand these further.
“While we continue to apply for new ground in the Orapa area of Botswana the bulk sampling results on BK5 and AK8 were surprising and disappointing,” said John Teeling, Botswana Diamonds’ chairman. “We are re-examining the historical data and we are carrying out a thorough review of the AK9 kimberlite prior to a decision to bulk sample. Differences in results need an explanation.”
Keeling added that the firm believed more mines will be found in the Orapa region and that it had applied for certain prospecting licences there.
In Zimbabwe the firm is preparing to sample claims in the south east of the country, the target being a hard rock kimberlite similar to Rio Tinto’s Murowa mine.

Proactive Investors UK

:)

Three good reasons to invest in Cameroon

Cameroon is proud of her diversity, rich potential, is envied for her social peace and stability as well as her institution. Cameroon is from all points of view an Eldorado for investors who wish to multiply their inputs. Here are some of the facets of this veritable promise land.
1 - At the geostrategic level
Situated in the hollow of the Gulf of Guinea, Cameroon occupies a strategic position which makes her the main port of entry and exit of the sub region. As a matter of fact, Cameroon is the only country to have a common border with each of the five other countries of CEMAC (The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa). Cameroon is bordered to the south by Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and to the East by Chad and The Central African Republic. Besides the CEMAC countries, Cameroon shares a border with Nigeria of about 1700 km. This particularity, coupled with its current economic performances (50 % of the GDP of CEMAC), makes Cameroon the leader of the sub-region with a potential market of about 200 million inhabitants, including Nigeria.

2 – At the level of governance
Cameroon has strong, credible institutions, guarantors of social peace and political stability, contrasting with uninterrupted troubles and conflicts observed here and there in Africa. This has, however, not been easy to set up. What a long and hard road! what a great number of obstacles overcome on the way of the edification of a strong, united nation which is very advantageous for investments.

3 – At the level of human and natural resources
Nature has endowed the country with a very high and varied mining potential. This makes most experts hold that Cameroon is a true geological mine. For some time now, the Cameroonian mining area is in effervescence. In just a few years, more than 80 licences, few of which are for exploitation, were granted to various national and foreign mining operators. It is clear that the government holds, as regards this sector, a precious lever for the re-launch of the economy which represents an axis of predilection for the policy to fight against poverty. For some decades now, discoveries sometimes of worldwide class are revealed in Cameroon (bauxite, gleams, nickel, cobalt and in a lesser measure, iron and gold). The adoption of an attractive and competitive Mining Code in 2001, allowed to assert the liberal character of the economy of the sector and to augment the number of private investors interested in her geological varieties. The descripton « Africa in miniature », used to characterize Cameroon, is not therefore usurped, no matter from which angle it is seen, the first of which is her mining potentialities. Judging from geological, geochemical and geophysical prospecting, as well as from geological photographs, mining exploration in Cameroon led to the discovery of numerous indications which are: gold, bauxite, tin, titanium, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, uranium, iron, manganese, rare lands, limestone, natural gas and oil amongst others, graphite, wolfram, colombo-tantalite, arsenic, talc, phosphate. As of today, Cameroon has one of the biggest worldwide deposits of cobalt, nickel, manganese, bauxite, iron …

a) Human and natural resources
Cameroon offers a diversity which makes of her a summary of all Africa, its vegetation, its climate, its soil…. are all advantageous for agriculture. The country has about 20 million inhabitants among which 64 % are less than 25 years old. An educated, well -formed and laborious youth is synonymous with the availability of a skilled workforce.

b) Tourism
Cameroon has more than 350 km of coasts. Her fauna and flora make her one of the most attractive ecosystems in the world. With her about 300 registered tourism sites, Cameroon is potentially a dream destination
So Then, why invest in Cameroon??! Simply, because natural conditions have combined with political will to make an ideal destination of the country for all types of investments.

Engelbert MBOA

Sustainable Waste Management – Cameroon Targets 100 MW of Energy From Household Waste


Read more: http://news.cameroon-today.com/sustainable-waste-management-cameroon-targets-100-mw-of-energy-from-household-waste/7641/#ixzz1aNXVeP5m
http://www.cameroon-today.com

Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – Sustainable Waste Management – Cameroon and the Spanish investors from the PIA Energy JVC Group, have signed an agreement for feasibility studies for a project that will produce 100 Megawatts of energy from household and industrial waste collected from Cameroon’s main cities of Yaounde and Douala.

PIA Energy JVC Group - Sustainable Waste Management Process Map
The Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Michael Ngako Tomdio and the Board Chairman of PIA Energy JVC Group, Jaime Palacios and the Director General of PIA Cameroon, an affiliate of the Spanish Group, Adolfo Costa Sanchez, signed the agreement in Yaounde, Cameroon on Monday, September 12, 2011.
.“The project will involve the production of 100 megawatts of electricity from the combustion of household and industrial waste at temperatures averaging 4,000 degrees using state-of-the-art technology,” said the Director General of PIA Cameroon, Adolfo Costa Sanchez.
The Spanish investors will work in partnership with Cameroon’s National Hygiene and Sanitation Company (HYSACAM), the household waste management company in Cameroon, Mr Sanchez said.
He added that besides ensuring the cleanliness of cities and the proper treatment of household and industrial waste, “It will also create 300 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs,”
The terms of the agreement specifies that PIA ENERGY JVC will undertake financial and economic feasibility studies in the first phase and pending government’s approval, continue with studies on the environmental and social impacts and put in place household waste collection points as well as electrical energy production plants.


PIA ENERGY JVC and HYSACAM will also provide financing estimated at FCFA 245 billion.
“The project falls in line with our policy to diversify sources of energy supply,” Energy and Water Minister Ngako Tomdio said.
He announced that a work schedule will be defined and a pilot committee installed to ensure a smooth running of the studies.
“If everything goes on well”, he told the press, “the foundation stone of the project could be laid in 18 months”.
PIA ENERGY JVC is a Spanish investment group created in 1978 and operating in domains like civil engineering, construction, public works, petroleum exploitation, Sustainable Waste Management and renewable energy. It is present on all continents except Australia.

http://news.cameroon-today.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/PIAEnergyJVCGroup-Sustainable-Waste-Management-300x180.jpg

:)

Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – The government of Cameroon has signed the Letter of Intent of Forzi Sugar Company Limited, valued at FCFA 150 billion, the President of the Forzi Sugar Company Limited, Forzi Nkemmayang said in a press release.

Cameroon SUgar Cane
The Letter of Intent is for the debenture programme and also intended for funding by funders and foreign governments of the operations of the company, the release published in Monday, September 19, 2011 issue of the local English Language bi-weekly newspaper, The Post explains.
Forzi Sugar Company Limited is to be located in Efolofo Village in Mbonge Subdivision of South West Cameroon.
The FCFA 150 billion in the Letter of Intent, Forzi Nkemmayang said, will be used to construct a sugar plant in Efolofo Village with an annual production of 300,000 tons of sugar, construct a 60 MW Cogeneration Electricity Plant from sugar by-products, set up six developmental mechanised sugar cane plantations in the South West Region.
The company also plans to construct an Ethanol Plant with a capacity of 60,000 litres per day, produce Ethanol Fuel from sugar by-products, provide social amenities in the locality , create 6,000 jobs and construct residential houses for workers.


“It will be noted that Forzi Sugar Company Limited intends to, in its First Phase of Investment Programme, invest FCFA 236.7 billion in the sugar sub sector of the economy of Cameroon”, the press release states.
Cameroon’s Minister of Industries, Mines and Technological Development, Badel Ndanga Ndinga and the President of the Sugar company, Forzi Nkemmayang signed a protocol agreement for its setting up on April 16, 2008 in the capital city, Yaounde.
The company will specialises in the production of sugar, ethanol and electricity.


Read more: http://news.cameroon-today.com/sugar-trading-cameroon-signs-letter-of-intent-of-sugar-company/7660/#ixzz1aNa9YYYX
http://www.cameroon-today.com

Yaounde, Cameroon Africa(Cameroon News) – Cameroon’s Cocoa production has registered an increase of more than two times in June, the board announced in an official statement.
Cocoa production in Cameroon, Africa’s fourth biggest cultivator of the crop, increased to more than two times in June, the nation’s Cocoa and Coffee Board said.


Output rose to 6,840 metric tons from 3,200 tons a year before, the board said in report e-mailed today from the port city of Douala.
Production till June 30 since the season commenced in August amounted to 229,040 tons, according to the report. Production in the 2009-2010 season was 198,000 tons, the board said in August.
The West African nation’s exports for the month went up by 16 percent from 4,785 to 5,547 tons, according to the report.


Read more: http://news.cameroon-today.com/cameroon-finance-news-cameroon-cocoa-doubles-2/7431/#ixzz1aNbB8PtQ
http://www.cameroon-today.com

Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – AfricaRice – The government of Canada through the Canada International Development Agency (CIDA), will sponsor a Rice Post-harvest Project in Cameroon, the bi-weekly local English Language newspaper, The Post reported, Monday, September 5, 2011.
The Cameroon component of the project called “AfricaRice” programmed to last up to 2016, was launched in the capital city, Yaounde on August 24, 2011, the Buea-based newspaper reported.
The General Manager of the Cameroon Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Dr Jacob Mbua Ngeve, said the project will improve rice post-harvest handling, marketing and develop new rice-based products.

The Cameroon component of the 7 million US Dollars project, will be managed by a National Coordinator, Dr Ndinding Sali Atanga.
Canada International Development Agency is sponsoring the rice post-harvest project in seven other African countries that include the Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Uganda, the newspaper reported and added that the lead centre of the project is the Cotonou-Benin based AfricaRice Centre.
The representative of the AfricaRice centre, Dr Mamadou Kabirou N’diaye reportedly said the project will curb the rice post-harvest, processing and marketing problems, as a huge quantity of rice is lost in Africa after harvest due to poor handling and manipulation.


President Paul Biya of Cameroon, the paper reported citing the General Manager of IRAD, Dr Jacob Mbua Ngeve, listed maize, rice, sorghum, cassava and plantains IRAD must ensure their massive production to feed Cameroonians.
The national demand for rice in the country in 2008 stood at 427,000 tons but only 100,000 tons were produced locally


Read more: http://news.cameroon-today.com/africarice-canada-to-sponsor-rice-post-harvest-project-in-cameroon/7595/#ixzz1aNced1Uv
http://www.cameroon-today.com

Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – Construction work on the Mbalam Iron Ore project in South East Cameroon will start towards the end of this year.
“All the organisation for the start of the project is in place and we are only waiting for the signing of the mining convention and agreements with strategic partners in order to launch construction work on the site”, Roger Bogne, the Chief Executive Officer of Cam Iron, the Cameroonian company to carry out the iron ore exploitation said in Yaounde on June 21 after discussions with the Minister of Industry, Mines and Technological Development, Badel Ndanga Ndinga.

Cameroon Tourism - Cameroon Africa set to become a major touristic destination of the world
Officials of the Australian-based Sundance Resources Limited, the mother company of Cam Iron in the Mbalam Iron Ore mining project, led by its board chairman, George Jones had discussions with the Industry and Mines Minister on the future of the project.
Cam Iron, Roger Bogne disclosed has finalised feasibility studies on the iron ore mining project that gives brighter perspectives to the local population, exploitation companies and the government of Cameroon.
The fallouts of the project will be in the form of taxes paid to the government, royalties, salaries, customs duties and the purchase of goods and services of subcontracting companies.
The Mbalam Iron Ore project is estimated to produce 484 million tonnes of rich iron ore and 2.32 billion tonnes of iron ore to be enriched.
The project is expected to cost FCFA 2, 000 billion. The iron ore will have to transported to the Port city of Kribi through a 480 km railway network that is still to be constructed. A processing factory is also envisaged for Kribi.


Progress in the Mbalam Iron ore projected was halted when board members of the Sundance Resources Ltd died in a plane crash in Congo Brazzaville in June 2010.


Read more: http://news.cameroon-today.com/mbalam-iron-ore-project-sundance-resources-limited-cam-iron-say-construction-of-cameroon%e2%80%99s-iron-ore-project-begins-towards-end-of-2011/6834/#ixzz1aNeqrZ6t
http://www.cameroon-today.com

Un nouveau siège dans 27 mois pour la Caisse autonome d’amortissement

[ 03/10/2011 à 18:43 ]


Le ministre des Finances a lancé hier au Boulevard du 20 mai, les travaux de construction de l'immeuble. Coût de l'investissement : 17 milliards de F.

Un édifice de 12 niveaux, plus trois niveaux de parkings, sur une superficie totale estimée à plus de 5.000 m2. Ainsi se présentera d'ici fin 2013, l'immeuble siège de la Caisse autonome d'amortissement (CAA). Situé au boulevard du 20 mai, il jouxte le siège social de la Cameroon Telecommunications (Camtel). Essimi Menye, ministre des Finances et président du conseil d'administration de la CAA, a posé hier à Yaoundé la première pierre d'une construction décrite comme futuriste

Selon la présentation de François Ovono Elemva, mandataire du groupement Cauduc/Egis Cameroun, chargé de réaliser les travaux, il ressort que le choix architectural (longiligne en forme de L) s'est fait sur la base des contraintes liées au respect de la réglementation d'urbanisme et d'architecture du centre ville de Yaoundé. L'accent a également été mis sur l'innovation.

Par conséquent, la construction prévoit un bloc de granite et de verres, un dispositif de protection contre le vent et les nuisances sonores, un système de climatisation ultramoderne et sur le toit, des panneaux solaires pour générer l'énergie renouvelable. La fondation sera semi profonde notamment pour des besoins d'un parking estimé à 410 places. A terme, la moitié des locaux servira à la location à usage commercial ou administratif. Le bâtiment annexe comprendra une salle de conférence avec toutes commodités confondues, une cantine, une crèche une salle de sport, une infirmerie. Coût de l'opération, environ 17 milliards de F.

Dans son allocution, Dieudonné Evou Mekou, directeur général de la CAA explique que les bureaux l'immeuble de la Société nationale d'investissement (SNI) qui accueille ses services à Yaoundé sont devenus étroits et ne garantissent plus un environnement de travail efficace. Bien plus, un siège à la CAA n'est pas une opération de prestige. Il s'agit plutôt de garantir la crédibilité de l'institution. Ce, d'autant plus qu'en 25 ans d'existence, le gestionnaire de la dette publique au Cameroun a connu une grande évolution de ses missions. C'est depuis 2008 qu'un comité est à pied d'œuvre pour valoriser le lot B2 (5.964 m2) de l'avenue des banques, acquis par la CAA en 1994. Le ministre des Finances a souligné que cette « grande réalisation intervient dans une période de consolidation des finances publiques et de reprise de l'économie nationale ». Les travaux seront livrés dans 27 mois. Ils coûteront 17 milliards de Fcfa.

Faut-il le souligner, le boulevard du 20 mai où sera érigé l'édifice est appelé Avenue des banques dans le plan d'urbanisation de Yaoundé. A l'origine, cette avenue devait abriter les établissements financiers et les banques. Il a été rebaptisé boulevard du 20 mai à cause du déplacement du lieu du défilé de la fête de l'unité du plateau Atemegue vers le centre-ville. Selon Dieudonné Mbarga, 4è adjoint au délégué du gouvernement auprès de la Communauté de Yaoundé, il est envisagé que l'Avenue des banques reprennent ses droits sur son site. C'est pourquoi, l'an dernier, des travaux ont été engagés au quartier Mfandena à cet effet. Mais les garanties sécuritaires n'étaient pas suffisantes.

http://news.mboa.info/mirror/1317669776/cache/caisse-damortissement-0-4-cimages-s9c26-504x378-cache-ca0fea.JPG

Mining Engineering Degree, Leveling Mining Guide: Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – The government of the Republic of Korea will finance and build a National Mining Laboratory in Yaounde, Cameroon estimated to cost 7 million US Dollars (about FCFA 3.5 billion).

Cameroon Diamond Mining Industry - South Korea CK Mining develop Diamond Mine Yakadouma

Cameroon’s Minister of Industries, Mines and Technological Development, Badel Ndanga Ndinga and the leader of the Implement Survey Team of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Jae-Hong Choi, signed the financing agreement in Yaounde on September 1, 2011.


The Secretary of State at the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Technological Development, Dr Fuh Calistus Gentry, the brain behind the mining laboratory project had a working session with Korean delegation on August 31, 2011.
Korea International Cooperation Agency will provide the Mining Engineering design and construction of the building and necessary equipment for the laboratory such as mineral processing/refinement, mineral identification and chemical analysis equipment, the terms of reference of the agreement specified.
The first two years of the project will consist of building the laboratory and equipping it, while the ensuing two years will be devoted to training Cameroonians who will run the Mining Engineering laboratory.
“Before now, all our samples were sent to Europe and it has been time-consuming and costly. The laboratory is going to be commercial, meaning all countries in Central Africa would use the laboratory”, Dr Fuh Calistus said in a press interview after the agreement signing ceremony.
“We have more than a hundred mining companies in the country. Progress has been slow because samples had to go to Europe for analysis”, he further stated.
Cameroon has huge deposits of gold, diamond, bauxite, copper, titanium, chromium, iron, nickel.


Read more: http://news.cameroon-today.com/mining-engineering-degree-korea-to-finance-fcfa-3-5-billion-mining-laboratory-in-cameroon/7585/#ixzz1aNgEvQXc
http://www.cameroon-today.com

Projets structurants: L’Etat convoite 85000 emplois pour les nationaux
Lundi, 20 Juin 2011 13:08

Sur les 120000 emplois identifiés dans 18 grands projets structurants, le Cameroun compte réserver 70% des postes aux travailleurs camerounais. « Le gouvernement ferra à ce que les intérêts des nationaux soient préservés dans le cadre des recrutements des grands projets structurants » a révélé, le ministre de l’Emploi et de la formation Professionnelle, Zacharie Perevet, à l’ouverture de l’atelier de concertation entre les administrations publiques, les maîtres d’ouvrages et les partenaires privés sur l’insertion des nationaux dans les grands projets structurants Cette rencontre a permis de mettre sur pied un plan efficace de promotion du personnel camerounais au sein des projets structurants.

Ce plan repose essentiellement sur des actions à mener et des indicateurs de promotion du personnel ; sur des mécanismes consensuels de transfert de technologies ; les responsabilités et le rôle des administrations impliquées et les maîtres d’ouvrages. Un chronogramme sera établi dans les prochains jours pour la mise en œuvre des engagements pris par les parties prenantes. En attendant la mise en place de ce chronogramme, l’Etat envisage recruter au moins 70% des nationaux sur les 120000 emplois que devraient générer les grands projets structurants. Les échanges ont porté essentiellement sur quatre projets notamment les projets portuaires, industriels miniers et énergétiques
Dans le cadre de la réalisation des projets infrastructurels notamment le Port en eau profonde de Kribi, il est prévu la création de 20000 emplois directs et indirects dans la phase de construction et 6000 emplois dans la phase d’exploitation. Concernant les projets industrielles à l’instar de la construction de l’usine de fabrication d’engrais chimique à Kribi, il est prévu 9000 emplois directs et indirects dans la phase de construction et 3000 emplois dans la phase d’exploitation . Au niveau de l’usine d’électrolyse d’aluminium de Kribi, la phase de construction prévoit 6146 emplois directs et indirects.

S’agissant des projets miniers notamment l’exploitation du gisement du fer de Mbalam ; exploitation du cobalt, du nickel et du manganèse à Nkamouna ; l’exploitation de la bauxite de Mini Martap ; l’Extraction de l’uranium de Poli ; l’exploitation du diamant à Mobilon et l’exploitation de l’or à Bétaré Oya et à Colomine. Dans ces différents projets la phase de construction prévoit 35000 emplois directs et indirects et 12000 emplois lors de la phase d’exploitation. En ce qui concerne les projets énergétiques notamment les barrages de Lom Pangar ; de Memve’ele ; Nachigal ; Song Mbengue et Birmi Awasak. Ici la phase de construction prévoit 30000 emplois directs et indirects et 15000 emplois lors de la phase d’exploitation. Au niveau des centrales plus précisément les centrales à Gaz de Kribi, de Logbaba et de Limbe , il est prévu 1000 emplois direct et indirects dans la phase de construction et 150 emplois dans la phase d’exploitation.

Great information! Glad to have a Cameroonian around here


My parents are going to Cameroon next Spring so hopefully I'll get some information from them.

Great information! Glad to have a Cameroonian around here


My parents are going to Cameroon next Spring so hopefully I'll get some information from them.

Thanks!! I hope that they will enjoy to visit the "whole africa in one country" :banana:

Le ministre de l'Economie et de la Plannification et de l'Aménagement du territoire a inauguré vendredi 14 octobre à Bafang, une usine multinationale d’abattage automatique et de conditionnement de poulets.




A Bafang dans le Haut-Nkam, région de l’Ouest, après les « Grandes Ambitions » que le chef de l’Etat nourrit pour le Cameroun, on passe déjà à l’étape des « Grandes Réalisations ». En effet, le consommateur peut désormais trouver sur le marché national du poulet entier, emballé selon des normes scientifiques et certifié. La volaille est abattue, éviscérée et conditionnée à Bafang par la Société des produits avicoles du Cameroun (SPAC). L’usine mise sur pied, à cet effet, a été inaugurée officiellement vendredi dernier par le ministre de l’Economie, de la Planification et de l’Aménagement du territoire (MINEPAT), Louis Paul Motaze, en présence du président du conseil d’administration de la SPAC, Christophe Eken, des autorités administratives locales, des prestataires, des fournisseurs, du personnel et d’un public enthousiaste.

Présentant l’usine d’abattage automatique et d’emballage de poulets, Christophe Eken a déclaré que la SPAC « ne reçoit que du poulet élevé d’une certaine manière et dans des conditions hygiéniques garantissant sa bonne qualité. Ce poulet est ensuite traité suivant le principe ISO et le principe Halal, emballé sous vide, placé dans une chambre froide en attente d’être livré ». Le public a ainsi découvert un échantillon du « Poulet Dodu, marque déposée de qualité assurée aussi bien en goût qu’en poids ». L’usine a une capacité nominale de traitement de plus de 3 000 poulets en une heure. Coût de l’investissement, plus de cinq milliards de F CFA. Une convention d’un montant de 200 millions de F CFA pour le cofinancement de la deuxième phase relative au renforcement des capacités a été signée par Louis Paul Motaze et Christophe Eken. Ce qui porte à 500 millions l’appui déjà apporté par le gouvernement au promoteur.

Prenant la parole avant la coupure du ruban symbolique et la visite des installations de l’usine, Louis Paul Motaze a précisé qu’il est venu à Bafang comme un ami, comme le ministre en charge de l’Aménagement du territoire et celui chargé de l’Economie. S’appuyant sur les résultats du dernier recensement général de la population et de l’habitat, il a déclaré que plus de la moitié de la population camerounaise a moins de 20 ans et qu’on assiste à une intensification de l’exode rural. Ces deux faits sont porteurs de problèmes si on n’y apporte pas de solutions pérennes, a prévenu le ministre, ajoutant qu’il faut trouver des emplois aux jeunes, alors même que l’exode des populations vers les villes augmente plus vite que les infrastructures qui y sont mises en place. D’où des déséquilibres en termes d’insuffisance de fourniture de l’eau potable, de l’énergie électrique, des logements sociaux, etc. Par conséquent, selon le ministre, la solution à ces problèmes réside dans leur règlement au niveau local, en permettant aux jeunes de s’implanter dans leur milieu naturel. C’est le sens, a-t-il expliqué, de la nouvelle politique d’aménagement du territoire que le gouvernement veut conduire. Raison pour laquelle le MINEPAT n’a pas hésité à appuyer les initiateurs de la SPAC, la richesse étant créée à Bafang.

Evoquant ensuite le volet économique, Louis Paul Motaze a dit à tous ceux qui ont œuvré pour la construction de l’usine qui produit ce que nous consommons, que le gouvernement est fier de ce qu’ils ont fait et a décidé de les accompagner. A propos de la matière première, à savoir le poulet de chaire sur pied, le ministre a déclaré que l’usine ne doit pas fonctionner par à-coups, invitant les fermiers à s’organiser pour lui assurer un approvisionnement régulier afin que les commandes des clients soient en tout temps honorées.




Un important projet

Par sa capacité nominale de traitement (trois mille poulets par heure), l’usine d’abattage automatique et d’emballage de poulets de Bafang va structurer l’environnement économique, à condition qu’elle tourne à plein régime, c’est-à-dire largement au-dessus de son seuil de rentabilité. Cela suppose la mise sur pied d’un réseau viable et pérenne d’approvisionnement de l’unité de production en matière première de bonne qualité et à bas coûts (poulets de chaire vivants). Dans cette optique, il n’est pas tôt de penser à réaliser à terme une intégration verticale. Ce qui va permettre, en outre, une sécurité de l’approvisionnement et/ou des économies liées à l’achat de produits intermédiaires.

La survie à long terme de l’usine dépendra également de sa capacité à affronter la concurrence potentielle. Dans cette perspective, un point d’honneur devra être mis sur la réduction des coûts des facteurs de production, car tôt ou tard, des concurrents émergeront et intègreront dans leurs paramètres des processus nouveaux permettant aux pays émergents d’Asie d’être compétitifs à l’international.

Par ailleurs, plusieurs nouveaux agents économiques vont naître et prospérer du fait de l’avènement de la SPAC. En amont, les bénéficiaires sont les nombreux fermiers professionnels et non occasionnels. Biens formés, ils peuvent obtenir de bons rendements avec seulement de petits investissements. Les producteurs de provende vont également occuper une position tout aussi stratégique, le coût de l’alimentation de la volaille étant une variable déterminante du prix de revient. Les producteurs de provende seront aussi dans le réseau, avec les producteurs des aliments qui la composent : maïs, soja, tourteaux de palmier à huile, cornes de bœuf et coquilles d’œufs. Plusieurs sous-secteurs d’activité seront ainsi intégrés. Les fournisseurs d’emballage ne sont pas à négliger, celui-ci servant de vitrine au produit final.

Puisque rien ne se perd, rien ne se crée, la fiente de poulet servira d’engrais aux cultivateurs de maïs. En aval, les grossistes trouveront leur compte et feront le bonheur de nombreux détaillants. La chaîne de valeur devra s’étendre du distributeur jusqu’au consommateur. Au total, l’avènement de la SPAC aura un effet d’entraînement sur la création de nombreuses PME et PMI qui dépendront d’elle pour survivre.

Cameroun: Bowleven découvre un nouveau gisement dans le bassin de Douala

Un nouveau gisement a été découvert au large du Cameroun. Le puits Sapele-3, foré à 30 mètres de profondeur, recèle, selon la compagnie britannique Bowleven, un pétrole de bonne qualité dont le volume n’est pas encore évalué.


Pour Kevin Hart, PDG de Bowleven, cette nouvelle découverte, qui fait suite à une autre, très importante, faite récemment à 16 km de distance, démontre le potentiel du bassin de Douala.

« Les quatre puits qui ont été forés sur la zone ont tous les quatre révélé des gisements de bonne qualité », a déclaré Kevin Hart. « En outre, la découverte de gaz à condensat est prometteuse et mérite une évaluation plus poussée » a-t-il ajouté, confiant dans la stratégie de sa compagnie.


Pour mémoire, début août de cette année, Bowleven annonçait une découverte importante sur Sapele-2, au large de Douala, à 35 mètres de profondeur, dans la zone de Rio Del Rey et de Douala-bassin. Le volume était alors estimé à 100 millions de barils. « C'est donc avec impatience que nous attendons les résultats du puits Sapele 3 », avait alors déclaré Kevin Hart.


Agence Ecofin

Les bons points de l’agriculture camerounaise
16 Octobre 2011 MESSI BALA National - Economie
Le Cameroun obtient son classement le plus élevé dans le secteur agricole de l’indice Mo Ibrahim 2011.
Mis en place en 2007, l’Indice Ibrahim constitue la collection la plus complète de données quantitatives fournissant une évaluation annuelle des performances de gouvernance dans chaque pays d’Afrique. L’indice Mo Ibrahim évalue les prestations de biens et services publics délivrés aux citoyens par les pouvoirs publics et les acteurs non-étatiques à travers 88 indicateurs regroupés en quatre catégories : sécurité et souveraineté, participation et droits de l’homme, développement économique durable et développement humain. D’autres indicateurs sont pris en compte dans les calculs : l’assainissement, l’eau et la santé publique. Selon les résultats du 5e indice annuel de la gouvernance africaine, l’indice Mo Ibrahim, divulgués lundi 10 octobre dernier, « Le Cameroun obtient son classement le plus élevé dans le secteur agricole avec 60 points sur 100 contre 54 pour la moyenne continentale ». il s’agit-là de la reconnaissance des efforts faits par les pouvoirs publics pour renforcer la sécurité alimentaire au Cameroun. D’ailleurs, durant les cinq dernières années, la qualité globale de la gouvernance du Cameroun s'est améliorée (entre 2006 et 2010) comme le reconnaît l’expertise de la Fondation mo Ibrahim.
Globalement, avec 45/100, le Cameroun obtient un score supérieur à la moyenne régionale de l’Afrique centrale qui est de 39. Dans la liste des dix premiers du classement de pays africains qui se distinguent en matière de bonne gouvernance, on peut respectivement citer, l’Ile Maurice (1er), le Cap vert (2e), le Botswana (3e), Seychelles (4e), l’Afrique du Sud (5e). Le Lesotho, le Ghana et la Namibie sont de la partie également. Plus de la moitié de ces pays sont reconnus comme des Etats où la démocratie fonctionne effectivement et où les droits de l’homme sont respectés.

Energies renouvelables: Des bougies solaires déjà au Cameroun
Par Hervé Endong - 18/10/2011

Phase de lancement
BC Solar, c’est le nom de cette entreprise. Fabriquée en verre sablé, la bougie qui a une hauteur du luminaire d’environ 12 centimètres et 10 centimètres de diamètre, a un panneau solaire miniaturisé fixé sur la partie en inox au bas. Le jour on charge la batterie en exposant le panneau vers le soleil et à la tombée du jour on retourne la bougie et la magie opère ! Telle une véritable bougie, la flamme danse à travers le verre givré. Qu’il pleuve ou qu’il vente, la flamme de cette bougie solaire continue à danser dans son tube de verre sablé. «Quand j’ai vu cette bougie, j’avoue j’ai été fortement impressionnée », témoigne Valérie Tiacoh, ancienne de France Télécom, et directrice générale de Mindee, une agence conseil en communication et marketing. C’est d’ailleurs cette agence qui a le marché de la vulgarisation de ce produit, bref de la pénétration au Cameroun. «L’agence lui a recommandé plusieurs choses. Entre autres, la création d’une succursale de la société au Cameroun, l’ouverture d’un point de vente à Yaoundé avec un show room », explique l’ancienne directrice de marketing et de la communication d’Orange Cameroun. La phase de lancement a donc été déjà gérée par Mindee. Il manque maintenant une stratégie de commercialisation qui, d’après Valérie Tiacoh, va intégrer toutes les propositions faites par l’agence. L’une des dernières innovations de BC Solar est donc cette bougie solaire très originale et pratique.
Ancien cadre de France Télécom
C’est en rapport avec cette commercialisation que BC Solar est annoncée le ce novembre 2011 à Promote. Avec sa gamme de produits très innovants. En dehors des bougies solaires, ce Camerounais a crée des produits solaires dans presque tous les domaines. Sacs, réfrigérateurs, chauffe eau, lampe de jardin, projecteurs, congélateurs, douche, groupe électrogène, bio climatiseur, etc. Ancien cadre de France Télécom Mobiles, Charles Fondop quitte le groupe de télécommunication pour créer sa propre entreprise Telecom Partners, un prestataire de services. Sensible aux questions d’inaccessibilité des jeunes aux nouvelles technologies, il créé l'Association camerounaise pour les nouvelles technologies (ACNT), destinée à promouvoir les échanges entre étudiants camerounais et les grandes entreprises des technologies de l'information. En2009, il place le développement durable au cœur de son action et met sur pied BC Solar spécialisé dans les énergies renouvelables et plus particulièrement, le solaire, l'éolien et la géothermie. Son action majeure au Cameroun reste ce panneau solaire offert en mars 2011 au centre de santé de Fifinda, chef lieu de l’arrondissement de la Lokoundjé, situé à 34 km de Kribi, dans la région du Sud. Cette énergie solaire permet depuis lors à cette formation hospitalière, d’alimenter le centre et surtout d’être à l’abri des délestages. Le panneau solaire offert à Fifinda, a une capacité de 1.080 Kilowatts, soit 6 heures d’autonomie. L’énergie solaire captée à travers ce panneau alimente, les ampoules, les frigos, les téléviseurs et autres appareils électrique du centre de santé. Valérie Tiacoh, tout en appréciant cette ingéniosité, reste modérée. « Ce n’est pas une substitution à l’énergie classique, mais un complément », précise-t-il.

image d'illustration

http://www.camereco.com/images/articles/1/1318933169615.jpg

HUAWEI Cameroun présente le PUSH TO TALK SERVICE

L'entreprise chinoise et Camtel mettent bientôt sur le marché le PTT. C'est une technologie intégrant le talkie walkie et le Ct phone dans un seul téléphone.

En cette matinée du vendredi 30 septembre 2011, une cérémonie rassemble dans un hôtel de Yaoundé une poignée d'invités triés sur le volet. Au menu des travaux : la présentation du Push To Talk (PTT). Il s'agit d'un produit combinant à la fois le CT phone et le talkie walkie. Les spécialistes parlent d'un téléphone ouvert aux réseaux CDMA (CT phone) et talkie walkie. Ce qui offre à son utilisateur plusieurs services à forte valeur ajoutée : voix ; sms - mms ; multimédia ; caméra ; Gps ; High speed data (Evdo Reva) ; appels de groupes ; appels privés ; appels de groupes temporaires...

A Huawei Cameroun, l'on destine prioritairement ce produit aux personnes physiques et morales ayant une flotte à gérer, notamment les forces armées et police, les services privés de sécurité, les sapeurs pompiers, les hôpitaux, les entreprises de travaux publics, les supermarchés, les aéroports et les ports, le mangement des groupes spécialisés, etc. Outre sa convergence des services, le PTT est conseillé pour la compétitivité de ses prix, la large couverture du territoire, sa haute sécurité et confidentialité. Le PTT, disponible au Cameroun par le Terminal C3805T, n'offrira pas dans un premier temps certaines fonctionnalités telles que la caméra ou le Gps.

Huawei Cameroun est spécialisé dans l'extension du réseau fibre optique au Cameroun. Le pays de Paul Biya disposera de plus de 5000 kilomètres de câbles de fibre optique d'ici la fin de l'année. « Cette infrastructure est destinée à interconnecter les principales villes du Cameroun. Il s'agit du câble déjà posé le long du pipeline Doba - Kribi (980km), et surtout les 3200 km qui sont financés par la Chine et en train d'être posés par Huawei ».

Shi Weiliang, directeur général de Huawei Cameroun parle de la réussite de son entreprise en terre Camerounaise dans la plaquette du quarantenaire des relations entre la Chine et le Cameroun : « Il faut dire que le contexte en général est propice au développement des télécommunications au Cameroun. Le Cameroun a un grand désir de développer ses infrastructures de télécommunications... Etant le l'un des leaders mondial du domaine, et avec 2 bureaux au Cameroun, Huawei bénéficie d'un grand réseau global et des filiales localisées. Nous sommes proches de nos clients pour mieux comprendre leurs besoins, et garantir une solution technologique parfaitement adaptée aux circonstances ». Huawei est présent au Cameroun depuis 2005. Ses bureaux de Yaoundé et Douala emploient plus de 100 personnels dont 60% de camerounais.

Industrie : Deux nouvelles usines inaugurées à Douala

Elles sont spécialisées dans la production de l’huile et de la farine fortifiées.

16 h du vendredi 30 septembre 2011, les sirènes retentissent à Ndobo Bonaberi (Douala). Elles annoncent l’arrivée de trois ministres de la République. Ils sont venus procéder au lancement du programme de fortification de la farine de «froment» de l’entreprise Pasta S.a et des huiles végétales de la Scr Maya sis à Bonaberi. Ils n’ont pas eu du mal à traverser le pont du Wouri quadrillé par des militaires depuis l’incident de la veille.
André Mama Fouda, ministre de la Santé publique, Luc Magloire Atangana, ministre du Commerce et Badel Ndanga Ndinga, ministre de l’Industrie et du Développement technologique, ont d’abord été reçu par Célestin Tawamba, président directeur général du groupe la Pasta Sa et son équipe. Une pierre en marbre de couleur noire portant les noms des différents ministres est placée à l’entrée de l’usine.
Une visite guidée est alors initiée par Zaatouri M’Hamed, le directeur de l’usine de minoterie.

A l’intérieur de l’usine, des manoeuvres attendent devant la Carousel, machine qui sert à conditionné la farine dans les sacs de 25 et 50 Kilogrammes. «Ladite machine conditionne en moyenne 600 sacs par heure», précise un des techniciens présents devant l’appareil.
André Mama Fouda procède alors à la coupure du ruban symbolique. Et l’appareil est mis en marche. «Vous savez qu’au Cameroun, les aliments avaient beaucoup de carences. Cette farine va donc apporter plus de vitamines aux populations en consommant du pain fait à base de la farine de froment. Car, cette farine contient un doseur spécial en vitamines qui y sera ajouté», explique Zaatouri M’Hamed, directeur d’usine de minoterie à La Pasta Sa.
Quelques heures après, le cortège des trois ministres va se rendre à la direction générale de Scr Maya, où le directeur général, Olivier Schiano, va les accueillir. Il indiquera que «nous sommes heureux que ce projet se réalise. Car, les usines vont fabriquer les huiles et la farine de froment enrichies qui vont permettre de réduire la malnutrition chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans et de la femme en âge de procréer. Car, nous allons y rajouter des vitamines et minéraux, fer, acide folique et en zinc.»

La construction des deux usines à coûté 24 milliards de Francs Cfa, et éprouvé une procédure de neuf étapes. Le logo d’identification du programme de fortification alimentaire au Cameroun est prêt à être apposé sur toutes les bouteilles d’huiles et conditionnement de la farine de froment que l’on va dans quelques semaines retrouver sur le marché camerounais. Ceci a été possible grâce «à une concertation entre l’Etat, le privé et Helen Keller international. Notre objectif est d’éliminer toutes ces carences. Car, 40% d’enfants de moins de 5 ans au Cameroun souffrent d’une carence et 45% des femmes en âge de procréer sont anémiées». Le programme de fortification alimentaire au Cameroun permettra également, d’après le Mincommerce, de lutter contre la fraude. Car, «il y’a une double sécurité d’abord avec le logo d’identification et le prix de référence».
Tous les trois ministres, s’appuyant sur les arrêtés signés conjointement en septembre 2011, ont promis que d’ici peu, toutes les huiles produites ou vendues au Cameroun devront être fortifiées où alors retirées du marché.

Marion Obam

Projet du solaire au Mali: La solution par une expertise camerounaise
Par Idriss Linge - 27/10/2011
Avec le soutien financier du gouvernement allemand, le Groupe MSS, du camerounais David Mola va construire des centrales solaires au Mali



Le camerounais David Mola et Président directeur général de la Mola Solar System devrait construire pour le compte de la république du Mali, des centrales solaires pour une puissance totale en énergie électrique de 200 mégawatts. Ce projet de centrales, a priori une des plus grandes d’Afrique, sera mené en joint venture avec son antenne malienne, Mola Solar System Mali, grâce à un soutien du gouvernement allemand. La première centrale attendue dans la localité de Fana est annoncée par des médias maliens comme étant la première d'une série de plusieurs qui seront réalisées sur trois ans avec une puissance totale de 200 MW pour un coût global de 243 milliards de FCFA. L’énergie produite sera remise à la société malienne de distribution d’électricité. Les travaux devraient débuter dès fin décembre 2011 pour une livraison attendue en juin 2012. Le Mali est un pays qui me plait. C'est une raison personnelle. De l'autre côté, le Mali a un très grand potentiel en énergie solaire. J'ai étudié les besoins énergétiques de ce pays et j'ai réalisé qu'il avait besoin d'énergie propre. Un autre facteur qui m'a poussé à m'engager au Mali, c'est un décret qui a été signé en septembre 2009 par la présidence de la République concernant les exonérations dans le domaine des énergies renouvelables. J'ai donc compris que le pays avait des structures démocratiques fiables favorables aux investissements, a fait savoir David Mola, répondant à une interview pour le journal « l’indépendant » paraissant au Mali.
Le projet pourra créer jusqu’à 200 emplois directs sur une période de 30 ans. Une prouesse dont le camerounais est fier. David Mola est un ingénieur camerounais spécialisé dans le génie civil. Il est né en 1970 à Djongdong dans l’arrondissement de Wina dans le département du Mayo-Danay à 45 km de Yagoua à l’extrême-nord du pays. En 1990 il obtient une bourse d’études pour l’Allemagne et achève ses études en 1998. De 1999 à 2003 il a travaillé dans une société allemande comme directeur de projets et des ventes avant de créer son entreprise personnelle au nom de MSI (Mola Solaire International) GmbH en Juin 2003 dans le domaine des énergies renouvelables. Sur son choix de travailler sur le solaire, il dit toujours Il ya deux facteurs qui m’ont influencé. Le premier était ma passion pour cette technologie. Le second facteur provient du fait que dans mon premier emploi, je vendais des machines automatiques, qui une fois installées, faisaient perdre aux employés leur travail. Ainsi j’ai eu le désir de gagner ma vie avec une technologie non polluante et contribuant à la protection de l’environnement. Mola Sola System est spécialisé dans les installations solaires connectées au réseau, les systèmes solaires autonomes, les systèmes hybrides (combinaison solaire-générateur-éolien), les composantes solaires comme les panneaux solaires, les batteries, les régulateurs, les consommateurs comme les réfrigérateurs solaires, les lampes économiques, les pompes solaires, l’éolien, les installations hydrauliques, la biomasse, et en général tout ce qui a trait avec l’énergie renouvelable. Au mois de mai 2011 il était présent au Cameroun dans le cadre du forum des compétences de la diaspora et s’est toujours déclaré prêt à servir son pays, qui tarde encore à l’appeler. Le Cameroun souffre pourtant d’un déficit énergétique sérieux et dépense beaucoup d’argent sur des expertises qui jusqu’ici tardent à montrer leur pertinence.

Environnement des affaires: Petites avancées pour le Cameroun
Par Idriss Linge - 26/10/2011
Le pays est remonté dans le classement de ceux qui, sur l’année précédente, ont adopté des politiques favorables à la création d’entreprise



L’OHADA facilite le crédit
Le rapport Doing Businness 2012 disponible depuis le 20 octobre dernier, classe le Cameroun à la 161ème place pour son édition de cette année contre 165 l’édition précédente. Une performance que le pays doit essentiellement à l’amélioration de l’encadrement légal de l’accès aux crédits. Dans cette rubrique de l’étude, Le rapport laisse voir que le Cameroun (98ème contre 139 en 2010), est au dessus de la moyenne africaine (110), mais en dessous d’autres pays de la zone CEMAC, dont le Gabon, la république du Congo et la guinée équatoriale (tous à 98). Le fait est qu’au cours des deux précédentes années, le pays n’a fait aucune réforme dans le sens d’une amélioration de la législation relative au crédit. L’environnement camerounais des affaires a profité d’une réforme intervenue en décembre 2010, dans le cadre de l’organisation pour l’harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des affaires (OHADA) dont le pays est membre. Ce texte sous régional dans sa partie traitant des questions de garanties a apporté trois principales innovations. Désormais, le champ des garanties du prêteur est plus large et peut s’étendre jusqu’à des biens survenus dans un patrimoine futur, comme l’héritage par exemple. Dans le même sens la réforme de l’OHADA introduit des possibilités de sécurisation de crédit encore plus large, et enfin il est possible de gérer le contentieux de la garantie en dehors des tribunaux. Mais pour cette dernière réforme, il faudrait que les parties l’aient expressément annoncé dans le contrat.
Les réformes internes stagnent
Les autres améliorations dans l’environnement des affaires au Cameroun sont perceptibles dans l’accès à l’électricité. Les procédures et les délais requis pour avoir un branchement électrique pour une entreprise n’ont pas changé, mais son coût réel a légèrement baissé. Dans certains domaines, le Cameroun gagne des points en raison de la contre performance des autres pays. Aucune réforme particulière n’aura été menée durant la période de l’étude. Comme en 2010, enregistrer un droit de propriété nécessite de traverser 5 étapes qui durent une moyenne de 3 mois. La petite réforme est que désormais un brevet peut s’obtenir à 19,2% de sa valeur contre 19,3 en 2010. Encore au rang des améliorations, démarrer une affaire. La loi permet aujourd’hui de le faire en deux semaines sur 5 procédures et avec une dépense de 250 000 FCFA. Avant il fallait plus de 25 jours et dépenser jusqu’à 350 000FCFA. Le rapport établit aussi des segments où rien n’a changé dans l’environnement des affaires au Cameroun. Faire de l’import export est toujours aussi difficile. A l’exportation, un opérateur doit avoir 11 documents, attendre 21 jours et dépenser jusqu’à 800 000 FCFA. A l’importation on doit remplir 12 formulaires, et dépenser 1 300 000 FCFA ; le nombre de jour à réduit de 26 à 25 jours. Mais cela reste difficile. En visite à Douala, le président Biya a d’ailleurs promis de réduire les opérations portuaires à 3 jours. Le payement des taxes est lui aussi toujours stable. Une PME paye en moyenne 44 taxes diverses par an, ce qui prend un total cumulé de 27 jours ouvrables, soit 1 mois et dix jours. Enfin le Cameroun n’a pas amélioré la réglementation sur la conclusion des contrats. On prend toujours en moyenne 2 ans et 184 jours. On traverse près de 43 étapes et les dépenses de négociation coûtent jusqu’à 43% du montant global du contrat.

La situation globale en Afrique
Doing Business 2012 dont le thème est «Entreprendre dans un monde plus transparent», évalue comme d’habitude les réglementations affectant les entreprises locales dans 183 économies et classe les économies selon 10 domaines de la réglementation des affaires tels que la création d’entreprise, la solution de l’insolvabilité ou le commerce transfrontalier. Cette année, le classement de la facilité de faire des affaires s’est étendu et inclut désormais des indicateurs sur le raccordement à l’électricité. Il ressort du rapport global que le rythme d’amélioration des réglementations s’est accéléré en Afrique subsaharienne. Pour la quatrième année consécutive, Maurice est le pays d’Afrique subsaharienne où la pratique des affaires est la plus aisée pour un entrepreneur, avec un 23ème rang au classement général. En mettant en œuvre des réformes dans des domaines comme le paiement des taxes et impôts, l’obtention des prêts, la création d’entreprise, l’obtention des permis de construire, le transfert de propriété et le solutionnement de l’insolvabilité, Sao Tomé-et-Príncipe, le Cap-Vert, la Sierra Leone et le Burundi sont parmi les économies de la région qui ont le plus amélioré leur réglementation des affaires pour les entrepreneurs. Le rapport permet aussi de parvenir à la conclusion, qu’au cours des six dernières années, 43 économies en Afrique subsaharienne ont rendu leur réglementation plus favorable aux entreprises. Récemment, l’effort de coordination régionale pour l’harmonisation du Droit Commercial a produit des avancées notables – avec une réforme juridique qui nécessitait un consensus des 16 Etats-membres de l’Organisation pour l’harmonisation du droit des affaires en Afrique (OHADA).

Nanga-Eboko: La ferme chinoise bientôt opérationnelle
Par Dipita Tongo - 28/10/2011
Fruit de la coopération Chine – Cameroun, le centre pilote agricole «ferme chinoise» va contribuer à la diminution des importations alimentaires



A Nanga-Eboko, chef-lieu du département de la Haute-Sanaga (à environ 170 km au nord-est de la capitale du Cameroun), sur une vaste plantation qui longe le fleuve Sanaga, une série de nouveaux bâtiments retient l'attention. Démarré au mois de juillet 2009, le Centre pilote d'application des technologies agricoles, un don du gouvernement chinois au peuple camerounais, est prêt pour la réception par les autorités camerounaises. « Le centre en est à la dernière finalisation, il ne reste qu'à équiper les différentes salles, une cérémonie de réception est prévue » a déclaré Mme Angélia Ketchajuene, une actrice clef des projets de coopération agricole avec la Chine au ministère camerounais de l'Agriculture et du Développement rural. « Les gens disent que les Chinois sont ici pour labourer leurs champs. Quand le centre pilote sera mis en service, ils vont comprendre l'attention que la Chine accorde au développement de l'agriculture au Cameroun. C'est un centre pour l'expérimentation et la sélection des variétés de cultures, de formation des techniciens et de vulgarisation des technologies agricoles. Nous ferons tout pour qu'il devienne un centre de référence pour la coopération africaine », explique-t-elle. Sur les 100 hectares de terrain, aménagés en 42 grandes parcelles de champs cultivables, avec 5 kilomètres de pistes de circulation et d'alimentation en électricité, trois châteaux d'eau et 12 km de canaux qui permettront de pomper et distribuer l'eau de la Sanaga, on pourra accueillir les cours pratiques sur la culture des variétés de riz irrigué (donc cultivable en toute saison), de riz pluvial et d'autres produits agricoles, assure Wang Jianjun, directeur de la société Sino-Cam IKO, chargée de l'exploitation du centre pilote. Pour M. Wang, ce centre, fruit de la coopération sino-camerounaise, sera une plateforme parfaite qui permettra à ses collègues de mettre leur expertise au service du peuple camerounais désireux d'exploiter le potentiel agricole du pays. Pays à vocation agricole, le Cameroun vit une situation paradoxale où, sur ses 19,4 millions d'habitants, 5 millions sont menacés de famine, selon le représentant du Fonds des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO), Ousmane Guimdo. Actuellement, la majorité des paysans camerounais cultivent du manioc, du maïs, de l'arachide, du macabo, etc., à la force de leurs bras. Avec des méthodes essentiellement archaïques, on scrute le ciel pour implorer les pluies qui arroseront les petites plantations que l'on a pu créer au milieu d'une forêt. Les tracteurs et autres machines agricoles sont une curiosité. La récolte réussit à peine à subvenir aux besoins de la famille. Faute de production industrielle locale, « le marché camerounais est inondé par des importations massives de céréales. Entre 2004 et 2009, les importations de maïs sont passées de 2 000 tonnes à 23 000 tonnes. Pour le riz, le Cameroun en a importé, en 2009, 480 000 tonnes, contre 330 000 tonnes en 2004. Chaque année, 200 milliards [de francs CFA, environ 400 millions de dollars US] sont dépensés pour l'importation des céréales (riz, maïs, blé, mil, etc.) », explique Emmanuel Mbarga, chef de la cellule de coopération internationale au ministère du Commerce.
Former les cadres et moderniser les techniques agricoles
Une fois opérationnel, le centre pourra accueillir des apprenants des technologies modernes agricoles. « Au moins 300, avec les frais d'études déjà prévus dans le budget du fonctionnement du centre », précise M. Wang. Depuis son installation en 2006 dans ce pays d'Afrique centrale, Sino-Cam IKO a expérimenté plus de 140 variétés de riz hybrides et 4 variétés de riz locales dans la plantation de Nanga-Eboko, ou "ferme chinoise" comme l'appellent les habitants. Quatorze variétés ont produit en moyenne plus de 9 t/ha, le meilleur rendement ayant atteint par rapport aux variétés locales. Quant au maïs, 26 variétés hybrides de Chine et 10 variétés locales ont été testées, les variétés adaptées étant 30 à 50% plus performantes que les autres. Pour le manioc, 6 variétés de Chine et 2 locales sont en expérimentation. En janvier 2008, les gouvernements chinois et camerounais ont signé un protocole d'accord sur la construction d'un Centre pilote dédié aux techniques agricoles au Cameroun. La "ferme chinoise" à Nanga-Eboko a été choisie comme site et Sino-Cam IKO désignée pour la gestion pendant les 10 premières années de l'exploitation avant la livraison complète du centre aux autorités camerounaises. Ces trois dernières années, tout en organisant l'exécution des travaux de construction du centre et d'aménagement de l'aire, l'entreprise chinoise s'est consacrée à l'expérimentation des variétés et l'aménagement des champs. La plupart des produits ont servi aux expérimentations et à la consommation des techniciens et ouvriers, dont le nombre atteint une centaine en période d'intense activité. L'excédent de riz produit est vendu sur le marché local, de 150 à 350 francs CFA le kilo. « C'est beaucoup moins cher que les riz importés, surtout quand vous prenez en compte la différence de qualité. Notre but est d'aider les gens à se nourrir et couvrir les coûts de production », explique M. Wang. Sino-Cam IKO bénéficiera du soutien du gouvernement chinois pendant les trois premières années de sa gestion du Centre Pilote. Pour les 7 ans suivants, avant la livraison complète aux autorités camerounaises, l'entreprise chinoise devra la faire fonctionner avec ses propres moyens.

200 millions Fcfa pour la télémédecine

Publié le Mercredi, 12 Octobre 2011 16:38
Écrit par Anne Mireille Nzouankeu, Le Jour


Don. Le ministère de l’Economie, de la Planification et de l’Aménagement du Territoire veut faciliter l’accès aux médecins spécialistes.

Une convention de cofinancement entre le ministère de l’Economie, de la Planification et de l’Aménagement du Territoire (Minepat) et l’entreprise Genesis Télécare a été signée hier à Yaoundé.

Par cette convention, le Minepat fait un don de 200 millions Fcfa à l’entreprise Génésis Télécare pour l’extension des centres de télémédecine dans sept villes, à savoir Bamenda, Bangangté, Ebolowa, Ngaoundéré, Buéa, Nkongsamba et Pouma. Pour Louis Paul Motazé le Minepat, ce projet d’extension des centres de télémédecine vise « à répondre à la demande des patients des zones reculées en soin de santé spécialisés ». Il s’agira également de réaliser des électrocardiogrammes, des échographies, le suivi néo-natal et de former le personnel en télémédecine.



Le projet de télémédecine au Cameroun permet de mettre en contact, à distance, un patient et un médecin. 15.000 consultations, 1.000 électrocardiogrammes et plus de 600 échographies sur des femmes enceintes ont déjà été réalisés depuis le lancement du projet il y’a deux ans. Les médecins qui participent à ce projet « sont établis pour la plupart à Yaoundé. Mais certains spécialistes consultent ou collaborent depuis la Suisse, la France et l’Afrique de l’Ouest », révèle Jacques Bonjawo.

Les 200 millions offerts par le Minepat entrent dans la deuxième phase du projet qui doit durer un an. Au cours de la première phase, des centres de télémédecine ont été installés dans cinq villes parmi lesquelles celle de Yagoua qui permet aussi aux populations du Tchad de se faire consulter. A la fin de la signature, Jacques Bonjawo est reparti avec son chèque de 200.000 millions Fcfa.

Anne Mireille Nzouankeu

Hôpital Gynéco-obstétrique de Douala

D’un coût total de 9,9 milliards de Fcfa, le complexe hospitalier ultramoderne sera bâti sur 13.700 m2 de surface utile aura une capacité d’accueil de 300 lits et sera le plus grand de l' Afrique centrale. Il se compose de 11 bâtiments abritant des services administratif et d’imagerie médicale, une banque de sang, des services de laboratoire d’analyses médicales, un bloc opératoire de quatre salles d’opération, un bâtiment de consultation comportant un service des urgences, de consultation générale, pédiatrie, de gynécologie obstétrique, stomatologie, ORL et médecine traditionnelle chinoise, des bâtiments dédiés à l’intendance, la conciergerie, la cuisine-cantine, etc.

http://quotidien.mutations-multimedia.com/images/resized/images/stories/demo/other/hopital_gynco_200_200.jpg

Coopération entre le Cameroun et la Chine pour la construction d'un hôpital de référence à Bamenda (Cameroun anglophone)

Le gouvernement camerounais et la société China Shanxi Construction engeneering corporation ont signé jeudi à Yaoundé, un mémorandum d'Entente pour la construction d'un hôpital de référence à Bamenda, le chef-lieu de la région du Nord-ouest.

«Ce mémorandum d'Entente porte sur les études générales, architecturales, techniques et financières relatives à la construction et l'équipement du futur hôpital de référence de Bamenda, d'une capacité de 250 lits, ainsi que les structures annexes de ce grand ensemble», a déclaré, face à la presse, le ministre camerounais de la Santé publique (MINSANTE), André Mama Fouda.

Il s'agit en fait de l'étape préliminaire. Le MINSANTE a demandé aux experts impliqués dans la réalisation de ce projet, d' entamer sans tarder la mise en oeuvre des activités prévues, conformément au chronogramme établi à cet effet.

Les prochaines étapes du processus prévoient entre autre la visite préliminaire d'un hôpital de référence en Chine par les autorités camerounaises en juillet, la présentation d'une maquette définitive le 10 août par le constructeur. Les études de faisabilités seront quant à elles lancées le 15 août, le dimensionnement du projet (avant-projet détaillé, coût et descriptif du projet) sera fait mi-avril 2012. La signature de la convention de financement et du contrat d'exécution interviendra fin avril 2012.

Le coût du projet est estimé à environ 25 milliards de francs Cfa (environ 250 millions de dollars Us).

«Nous allons aider le gouvernement camerounais à trouver les financements, ou des dons pour la construction de cet hôpital», a indiqué M. Hanjun, le Directeur général de la China Shanxi Construction engeneering corporation.

L'hôpital de référence de Bamenda est une promesse faite aux populations de cette région lors de la célébration du cinquantenaire des forces de défense le 08 décembre 2010. Il sera construit sur un site de 11 hectares. Un terrain déjà borné par les autorités administratives et municipales de Bamenda.

La société China Shanxi Construction engeneering corporation a déjà réalisé plusieurs édifices importants au Cameroun, à l' exemple du palais polyvalent des sports de Yaoundé, ou l'hôpital gynéco obstétrique et pédiatrique de Douala.

Agence de presse Xinhua 2011/07/01

Bowleven in oil find off Cameroon

Edinburgh-based oil and gas exploration firm Bowleven has announced a new oil find off the coast of Cameroon.

The discovery was made while drilling at its Sapele-3 exploration well in the Douala Basin.

Bowleven said it had found 11 metres of oil at the Deep Omicron interval at its West African prospect.

The explorer said the interval extended “considerably beyond” its mapped area, adding it expected to revise oil estimates significantly upwards.

Bowleven now plans to drill to the base of Deep Omicron before further assessment is carried out.

The firm also intends to evaluate the extent and size of a gas condensate discovery at the site.

The company said it had now found oil at all four of the Sapele wells it had drilled so far.Bowleven chief executive Kevin Hart commented: “We are excited with results so far at Sapele-3.

“The Deep Omicron interval continues to deliver and the confirmed presence of oil and good quality reservoir at this location further emphasises the significance of this play within the Douala Basin.”

Mr Hart added: “All four Sapele wells drilled have now encountered oil within the Deep Omicron interval, thus reinforcing the geological model and highlighting the overall development and exploration potential of the fairway.”

bbc.co.uk

Cameroon, Lafarge To Invest XAF50B In New Cement Plant

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (Dow Jones)–The Cameroon government and a local Groupe Lafarge unit are investing 50 billion Central African francs ($581 million) in a cement factory to be built in Nomayos, a small town 15 kilometers southwest of Yaounde, the unit’s chief executive officer said Friday.

Jointly owned by Cameroon’s government and Groupe Lafarge’s Cimenteries du Cameroon, or Cimencam, the new plant will produce some 500,000 tons of cement annually, Cimencam CEO Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo told Dow Jones Newswires.

The Nomayos factory will be the third for Cimencam, which already produces 1.6 million tons of cement annually at its factories in Figuil in the country’s north and in the port city of Douala.

Last month, the Cameroon’s government and Nigeria’s Dangote Group signed an agreement authorizing the company to build a cement plant in Douala.

Dangote will invest XAF55 billion in the project, which is to produce 1 million tons of cement a year.

Cameroon imported at least 500,000 tons of cement in 2010, according to government data, which also show that yearly demand for cement is estimated at 4 million tons.

online.wsj.com

Cameroon’s SNH and German Ferrostaal AG sign contract to produce urea and ammonia in Cameroon

The German company, Ferrostaal AG is on course to produce some 700 000 metric tons of urea and 600 000 metric tons of ammonia in Cameroon. this is the substance of a memorandum of understanding signed in Yaoundé, on October 13, 2011, between the executive managing director of the national hydrocarbons corporation (NHC) and the executive vice president of Ferrostaal AG. Feasibility studies for the project that is expected to boost agricultural production in Cameroon are scheduled to last nine months.

The Executive Director General of the National Hydrocarbons Corporation, Adolphe MODIKI has signed, on behalf of the SNH, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kaspar Evertz, Executive Vice President of Ferrostaal AG.

FERROSTAAL AG, a company governed by German laws, is a global supplier of industrial services whose experience is renown worldwide.

According to the tenets of the protocol agreement signed October 13, 2011, at the head office of the SNH, FERROSTAL AG is going to carry out feasibility studies in Cameroon with the aim of setting up a fertilizer production factory in a yet to be determined location.
According to specialists, the feasibility studies will be conducted over a period of about nine months. In the end, the plant will produce, annually, an estimated 600 000 metric tons of ammonia and 700 000 metric tons of urea obtained through the treat mean of natural gas tapped from on and off-shore wells.

This should boost domestic and external supply as well as agricultural production in Cameroon. Observers also think the multiple-billion CFA francs project will have lots of spin-offs for the labour market as well.

CRTV

Electricity: Supply To Increase By 100 Megawatts In December

The pledge was made by the Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Michael Ngako Tomdio after a tour last week of four thermal plants under construction in the country.

Electricity supply in the country is expected to increase by 100 megawatts by December 2011 upon the completion of four thermal plants currently under construction in Bamenda, North West Region (20 Megawatts), Ahala, Yaounde and Mbalmayo in the Centre Region (60 and 10 Megawatts respectively), and Ebolowa in the South Region (10 Megawatts).

After whirlwind tour of the four project sites last week to assess the level of progress, Minister Michael, reassured: “All equipment are in place, work is going on and we are within schedule and will be ready on time.” On his part, Dr. Mustapha Amin, the Chief Executive Officer of PSP Elsewedy, one of the contractors, expressed similar optimism. “We are using quality equipment from Europe and Egypt.
We designed the project in accordance with international standards. With respect to environmental protection, we have already outlined and followed all the environmental regulations of this country; especially for fire hazards and noise of the engines.”

“We are keeping the noise level and emissions within environmentally acceptable limits. We’ll do our best to meet the Minister’s two-week deadline. We faced some problems with customs clearance and bringing the material. But today, we have all the material available and technicians working on site. We’ll do our best to work round the clock,” he concluded.

Upon completion, the additional 100 megawatts generated by the thermal plants will be added to the national grid. It is intended to boost electricity supply during the dry season when the water level in hydroelectric dams falls.

Cameroon Tribune

Poultry plant commissioned in Cameroon

A new poultry slaughtering plant has been commissioned in Cameroon with a capacity to produce more than 3,000 chicken a day.
The multi-billion plant in Bafang, West Region, known as the Cameroon Poultry Products Plant, SPAC, is receiving government financial backing to the value of African Financial Community Francs (FCFA) 500 million.

The country’s Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Louis Paul Motaze insisted that only chicken raised following certain standards will be accepted by the plant and all in conformity with international standards and norms.

Motaze, who hopes that the project will help curb rural exodus among the young, urged local poultry farmers to ensure that the supply of chicken is not interrupted in order not to disappoint the plant’s customers.

WorldPoultry.net

Le cacao camerounais renoue avec sa renommée

Le Cameroun commence à récolter les fruits d’un plan de relance qui a réorganisé la filière cacao et, surtout, misé sur la qualité. Prochaine étape?: décrocher des certifications internationales.

Le cacao camerounais va mieux. Certes, la production n’a jamais vraiment baissé (voir infographie), mais le défi n’est pas tant la quantité que la qualité. Minée par dix ans de libéralisation totale, la fève camerounaise, jadis réputée, a perdu de sa superbe. Entre le milieu des années 1990 et le début des années 2000, la filière a subi les effets pervers du retrait de la protection publique?: fin des quotas, du prix minimum assuré, des intrants fournis aux producteurs…
En compensation, le prix payé aux 600?000 exploitants a augmenté, porté aussi par les cours mondiaux.
En 2002, alertés par les organisations camerounaises, les pouvoirs publics ont décidé de mettre en place un plan de relance du cacao et du café, doté d’une enveloppe de 268 millions d’euros sur dix ans à partir de 2004. « Objectifs?: promouvoir la marque Cameroun, optimiser la récolte, sécuriser les revenus des producteurs, multiplier les plants et produire des intrants », égrène Pierre Etoa Abena.

Marché virtuel
Une initiative parmi d’autres?: pour approvisionner les cultivateurs, des champs semenciers et des pépinières décentralisées ont été créés. La production est aujourd’hui de 5 millions de cacaoyers par an. Coût de l’opération?: 12 millions d’euros.

Autre action, destinée à redonner aux producteurs les moyens d’améliorer la qualité des fèves et de négocier à terme?: la fabrication d’équipements pour les traitements postrécolte, de silos et d’entrepôts.

Le dispositif sera complété par un système d’information aux cultivateurs, soutenu par la Conférence des Nations unies sur le commerce et le développement (Cnuced)?: prix, qualité, conditions climatiques… « Nous ambitionnons d’instaurer un vrai marché virtuel camerounais », assure Pierre Etoa Abena, avec à terme la création d’une place de marché électronique.

http://www.cameroononline.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cacao-.jpg

http://www.cameroononline.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cameroun-cacao.jpg

Source: XINHUA | 2011-11-21 | ONLINE EDITION

YAOUNDE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon's government is targeting a 5.5 percent economic growth in 2012 through the execution of the next state budget, which is estimated to be 5.6 billion U.S. dollars, officials disclosed on Monday.

The blueprint was unveiled by a finance bill being examined by the country's parliament that has been meeting in an ordinary session since Nov. 1.

"Despite the economic slowdown in most of the country's economic partners, Cameroon's economy is expected to maintain its growth trend," the Cameroonian Prime Minister Philemon Yang said.

On Friday, he presented his government's new economic, financial, social and cultural program before parliament.

He explained that in order to achieve this objective, the government will increase the volume of public investments as outlined in the Strategy Document for Growth and Job creation.

He said the government has based its estimates on the following parameters: the real growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) at 5.5 percent; the rate of inflation to be maintained at 3 percent; the price of the barrel of petrol projected to cost 100 dollars and the exchange rate of 1 dollar to be 467.7 FCFA.

The proposed 2012 budget of 5.6 billion dollars is higher than the previous one which was 5.142 billion dollars, an increase of about 448 million dollars.

The government estimates that in the 2012 budget, 4.602 billion dollars will be raised through the country's own revenue, while 998 million dollars will be obtained through loans and grants.

The prime minister said over 3.44 billion dollars will be used on recurrent expenditure, over 1.584 billion dollars will be spent on development expenditure and 575.2 million dollars will be used for payment of the country's debts.

A well-placed source recently told Xinhua that issues related to the 2012 budget and economic growth forecast will form the agenda during a meeting to be held between the Cameroonian government and a team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between Nov. 28 and Dec. 5.

By Tansa Musa

YAOUNDE, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Cameroon could produce some 36.5 million barrels of oil next year, the equivalent of 100,000 barrels a day and over 50 percent up on the "conservative" estimate of the central African state's 2012 budget, a state oil company official told Reuters.

The senior National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH) official said two new wells were expected to go into production during the first quarter of 2012.

"What you are seeing in the finance bill is just a very conservative estimate," said the official who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to reporters.

"Two oil wells were supposed to have gone into production this year but were delayed for technical reasons. But I can assure (you) that all measures have been taken to make sure the two go operational in the first quarter of next year."

He cited an expected production start at the Dissoni field formerly operated by Total E&P in the Rio del Rey basin close to the Nigerian border with an intial output of 15,000 bpd, for reserves estimated at 25 million barrels.

He further pointed to an expected increase in output from the Moudi and Ebome Marine concessions operated by independent oil firm Perenco in the Douala/Kribi-Campo basin with an initial production of 10-12,000 barrels, for reserves estimated at 20 million barrels.

Asked to comment, Perenco, which took over Total E&P concessions in Rio del Rey last April, said the Dissoni field would stabilise production at 40,000 bpd by around mid mid-2012.

"Perenco is pressing ahead with plans to develop the Dissoni North discovery made in 2005," it said in a written statement sent to Reuters in Yaounde.

"Dissoni North will stabilise operated production at 40,000 bopd by around mid-2012, and is thus of major economic importance for Cameroon."

On Moudi and Ebome Marine, the company stated: "As part of an overall programme to optimise production, Perenco maintains an active well work-over programme on the Moudi field ... At Ebome Marine, Perenco has constantly offset the natural decline by an aggressive programme of satellite developments."

The SNH official noted that initially Cameroon's oil output was seen at less than 60,000 bpd in 2010 but ended at 64,000 bpd. In 2011 it was initially slated at 55,000 bpd but is now seen hitting 65,000 bpd.

Cameroon became a modest oil-exporting country in 1977 with production peaking at 185,000 bpd in 1986, before declining steadily since then due to maturing fields.

However, despite the sharp drop, crude oil remains the country's leading export product, accounting for about 45 percent of its foreign exchange earnings today. (Editing by Keiron Henderson)

Wow. I always thought Cameroon produced as much oil as CB but evidently not.

Cameroon plans $10 million cotton mill

Cameroon will start construction of a $10 million cotton mill next year in an effort to boost value-added exports, officials said.

The Development Bank of Central African States and Societe Generale de Banque de Cameroun have agreed to raise 1 billion CFA francs – about 20 percent of the total cost of the project, the government said.

“At the moment, local processing of cotton is about 5 percent, with the remaining 95 percent exported.

This is about raising processing to 40 percent at least and cutting raw exports,” Martin Yankwa, an official at the Ministry of Industry, told reporters on Tuesday.

The general manager of the project, Robert Kemajou, told Reuters on Wednesday that construction would start in mid-2012 in the industrial district of Douala, and the total cost would be at least 5 billion CFA francs ($10.4 million).

Iron ore reserves at Nkout, Cameroon estimated at 4 billion mt

Written By: admin
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November 25, 2011
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Posted In:

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English

Iron ore reserves at Nkout, Cameroon estimated at 4 billion mt

Caminex Incorporated, a 100 percent-owned subsidiary of British mineral exploration and development company Afferro Mining, has stated that prospective reserves at its Nkout iron ore project in southern Cameroon are now estimated at 4 billion mt, with an expected mining life of 50-70 years.

The Nkout deposit is located around 27 kilometers from Djoum in southern Cameroon. Potential reserves had previously been estimated at 1.4 billion mt, with 33 percent consisting of premium grade iron ore.

Nkout is now expected to be the largest iron ore mine in Cameroon, ahead of the Mbalam iron ore project of Australian miner Sundance Resources.

SteelOrbis

Bowleven va de découvertes en découvertes

November 29, 2011

(Agence Ecofin) – La compagnie pétrolière écossaise Bowleven n’en finit pas de réévaluer à la hausse ses découvertes d’hydrocarbures dans le bassin de Douala, au large des côtes du Cameroun.

Suite au forage du puits Sapele-3, sur son permis d’Etinde, « un intervalle supplémentaire d’environ 8 mètres a été mis au jour dans des réservoirs à plus grande profondeur, principalement dans des couches du Paléocène présentant de bonnes qualités de porosité et de perméabilité » a révélé la compagnie. Les analyses effectuées en cours d’opérations révèlent une présence « très probable » de pétrole.

En octobre, le forage de Sapele-3 avait déjà mis en évidence une hauteur d’hydrocarbures de 11 mètres ainsi que la présence de condensats.

Et en aout dernier, la même compagnie faisait part d’une découverte importante (100 millions de barils) au large de Douala, à 35 mètres de profondeur, dans la zone de Rio Del Rey et du bassin de Douala.

Agence Ecofin

By Pius Lukong - Dec 9, 2011 11:23 AM ET


Coffee production in Cameroon, central Africa’s biggest grower of the beans, dropped in the 2010-11 season as some robusta-variety plants became dormant and illegal trade in arabica rose.
Output of both types dropped 39 percent in the harvest period to 34,417 metric tons, according to Bloomberg calculations made using data from the Cocoa and Coffee Board.
Production of robusta, which is used in instant coffee and espresso, declined to 31,840 tons in the season that started in October 2010 and ended last month, from 53,000 tons a year earlier, said Michael Ndoping, the board’s general manager.
“The coffee plants are certainly in their resting period after previous years of increased production,” he said in a speech at Angossas, 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the capital, Yaounde. Production may increase in the next crop, Ndoping said, declining to give a specific forecast. “The plants are fresh and have produced enough flowers this year,” he said.
Arabica output slipped to 2,577 tons from 3,423 tons a year earlier, Ndoping said. The arabica season runs from October to September.
“A lot of arabica coffee is sold in neighboring Nigeria,” Christopher Mbah, general manager of the North West Cooperative Association where about 70 percent of the country’s arabica beans are grown, said by phone. He declined to give an estimate of the amount of smuggling.
Production of both varieties of coffee is expected to rise to an annual 125,000 tons by 2015, Ndoping said.
Processing of robusta dropped to 193 tons in 2010-11 from 316 tons a year earlier, while arabica grindings declined 17 percent to 187 tons, according to a report from the board handed to reporters yesterday.

YAOUNDE Dec 12 (Reuters) - A unit of Singapore's GMG Global has struck a $410 million deal with Cameroon's government to develop 45,200 hectares of palm oil and rubber plantations, officials said on Monday.

Sud Cameroun Hevea S.A., 80 percent-owned by GMG, said the plantations in Cameroon's South region should become fully operational within four years, with production aimed at the export market.

"The private sector in general, and the agricultural sector in particular, must play a leading role in our country's quest to become an emerging economy by 2035," Economy Minister Emmanuel Djoumessi Nganou told a press conference to announce the deal. The head of Cameroun Hevea was in attendance.

Rubber and palm oil are already significant export crops from Cameroon, central Africa's largest economy. Annual production of the two crops is currently estimated at 60,000 tonnes and 175,000 tonnes, respectively.

No details on planned production from the new plantations were given. ($1 = 496.3350 CFA francs) (Reporting by Tansa Musa,; Writing by Richard Valdmanis,, editing by Jane Baird)

Cameroon Earn Millions In Regional Exports

YAOUNDE (Xinhua) — Between 2007 to 2010, Cameroon’s exports to other countries within the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) were valued at 196.46 million U.S. dollars, according to a survey results announced by the secretary of the Inter-Employers Group of Cameroon (GICAM), Martin Abega.

He was speaking in Yaounde during a presentation at the 4th CEEAC International Business Seminar that began on December 3 and ended on Dec. 11.
Cameroon is first a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) which is comprised of the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic and Chad and she is also a member of CEEAC which, in addition to the earlier mentioned countries, brings together Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Sao Tome et Principe.

Abega revealed that Cameroon’s exports towards CEMAC countries stood at 102.2 billion Fcfa which is 10.4 percent of the total value of her exports to the regional CEEAC market.

“The revenue earned from exports to the sub-regional countries accounts for 13.8 percent of Cameroon’s total earnings from exports during the four years that were being analyzed,” the GICAM secretary said.

Chad, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and the DR Congo were cited as Cameroon’s main clients.

Abega observed that Cameroon’s exports to Chad, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and the DR Congo were diversified.

These exports included products such as cooking fat, animal or vegetable oil, soaps, aluminium equipment, washing powder, plastic materials and cocoa.

In addition, Cameoon is also exporting papers, cartons, iron, milk products, natural honey and sugar.

Legend Mining updates market on highly prospective Cameroon operations

Legend Mining (ASX: LEG) continues to progress the company’s Cameroon operations, where magnetite intercepts of over 100 metres have been discovered.

Drilling activities will take a break over the Christmas period, but an additional four holes for 455 metres have been completed at the Melombo East Prospect since last month’s intercepts of 116.2 metres at 26.2% iron including 79.1 metres at 29.7% iron, and 80.5 metres at 36.6% iron.

Importantly – both of these holes ended in high grade, plus-35% iron mineralisation.
Mark Wilson, managing director, commented in the update: “We are very pleased with the results from Melombo East to date.

“When these details are considered with the grades and exploration target details released in November 2011, our confidence of Melombo East becoming a project of commercial significance is increased.

“With our strong cash position and new drilling equipment ordered we are looking forward to 2012 with confidence”.

Melombo East already has an exploration target of 300 to 500 million tonnes at 16-40% iron, and is just one of 15 exploration targets within the Ngovayang gold and iron ore project.

Legend is looking to deliver an Inferred JORC Resource at Melombo East as soon as possible.

Cash Boost

Legend is expecting to have over $20 million in the bank in January next year. The company will increase its cash reserves through a recently announced A$10 million capital raising and the $7 million cash sale of its non-core Mt Gibson Gold Project in Western Australia.

The extra $17 million will allow Legend to focus solely on iron ore exploration in West Africa and accelerate exploration and development at the Ngovoyang project.

Proactive Investors Australia

Exploration du fer : Affero Mining se concentre sur le gisement de Nkout

Le groupe anglais a revendu ses parts dans un projet au Libéria pour réinvestir au Cameroun.

Jusqu’ici, les responsables de Caminex, filiale camerounaise du groupe anglais Affero Mining qui a découvert un gisement de fer à Nkout, localité située à 27 km de la ville d Djoum, n’avaient pas publiquement osé la comparaison entre le gisement de fer de Mballam découvert par Cam Iron et celui de Nkout. Vendredi dernier au cours d’une conférence de presse, Richard Howe, Conseiller de Caminex, a enfin officiellement déclaré que le gisement de fer de Nkout est le plus important du Cameroun, avec un potentiel actuel estimé à 2 milliards de tonnes, et qui pourrait atteindre 4 milliards au terme de la période d’exploration. Le sous-sol de Nkout est donc plus ferreux que celui de Mballam, dont le gisement d’un potentiel de 3 milliards de tonnes de fer est en plus à cheval entre deux pays : le Cameroun et le Congo.

C’est certainement fort de ce potentiel alléchant que le groupe anglais Affero Mining a pris la décision de se concentrer sur ce gisement camerounais. En effet, au cours d’une conférence de presse vendredi dernier à Yaoundé, Peter Taylor, le directeur des opérations de ce groupe minier, a annoncé que Affero Mining a vendu ses parts dans un projet d’exploration minière au Libéria, pour réinvestir le fruit de cette transaction dans le projet de Nkout au Cameroun. Au total, ce sont quelques 50 milliards de Fcfa engrangés dans la cession de ses actifs au Libéria, qui vont prendre la direction du Cameroun. Parce que, a souligné Peter Taylor, le Cameroun est bien meilleure destination pour les affaires que le Libéria, un pays qui a été longtemps caractérisé par une instabilité politique.

Mais au-delà de cette appréciation, les responsables du groupe minier anglais indiquent que la décision de s’investir plus au Cameroun qu’au Libéria tient de ce que la collaboration avec les autorités camerounaises dans ce projet d’exploration minière a été «exemplaire». Une entente qui devrait se décupler au cours des prochaines années, au moment du lancement de la phase d’exploitation du gisement de fer de Nkout, dont l’entrée en activité est fortement tributaire de la finalisation de certains projets structurants, à l’instar de la construction du port en eau profonde de Kribi, du barrage hydroélectrique de Memve’ele, deux infrastructures aussi consubstantiels à l’exploitation du fer de Nkout que la construction de la ligne de chemin de fer Mballam-Kribi.

Cameroon raises cotton price to curb smuggling


YAOUNDE Dec 28 (Reuters) – Cameroon state firm SODECOTTON has increased farmgate raw cotton price by 27.5 percent for the current harvest in an effort to dissuade farmers from smuggling their produce to neighbouring Nigeria, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

SODECOTTON said it will pay farmers 255 CFA francs ($0.50)per kg of cotton this season from 200 CFA per kg in the previous season.

About 16 percent of Cameroon’s total output of 161,000 tonnes in the 2010/2011 season was smuggled into Nigeria where farmers were paid almost twice what they get in Cameroon, said Louis-Marie Nama.

“This massive illegal exportation was a big blow to SODECOTTON, with the corporation losing about 24 billion CFA francs ($47.37 million) during the year,” Nama said.

The firm pre-finances purchases by providing farmers with seedlings, fertilisers and other materials on the agreement that they sell their cotton to SODECOTTON.

“But this time the farmers did not respect the terms of the deal, preferring to illegally export to our western neighbour,” Nama said.

Cotton is cultivated by about 200,000 peasant farmers on about 172,000 hectares in Cameroon’s semi-arid Far North, North and Adamawa regions.

Official data from the firm shows that Cameroon’s raw cotton production rose 47 percent to 161,800 tonnes during the 2010-11 season with plans to increase output to between 185,000-200,000 tonnes in 2011/12 following the introduction of new high-yield plants.

Nama said SODECOTTON plans to raise its pre-financing fund from 33.8 billion CFA francs from 24 billion CFA during the 2011/12 season to boost production.

($1 = 506.6670 CFA francs)

Plus de 17 milliards en 2012 pour la Communauté urbaine de Yaoundé

C’est le montant du budget arrêté par le Conseil de communauté réuni dans la capitale vendredi dernier.

17,4 milliards de F. C’est le montant de l’enveloppe budgétaire de la Communauté urbaine de Yaoundé pour l’exercice 2012. Une dotation arrêtée par le Conseil de communauté de la municipalité réuni en session ordinaire vendredi dernier, et qui est en augmentation de 1,095 milliard de F par rapport à l’exercice qui s’achève.

Un budget qui, de l’avis du délégué du gouvernement auprès de la Communauté urbaine de Yaoundé, Gilbert Tsimi Evouna, exprime « la volonté de l’exécutif de privilégier les actions d’amélioration du cadre de vie des populations dans la Cité capitale ». D’où l’enveloppe budgétaire allouée au plan de campagne de l’exercice 2012, d’un montant de 10,465 milliards de F, ce qui représente environ 60% de l’ensemble des prévisions de dépenses.

Dans ce registre des dépenses, outre le remboursement d’une partie de la dette de la Communauté urbaine, l’exécutif de la ville de Yaoundé va se déployer dans certains chantiers, à l’instar de la poursuite des aménagements du palais des Congrès de Yaoundé, la réhabilitation des stations d’épuration de Mendong et de Biyem Assi.

Ce dernier volet, réalisé avec l’appui de l’Etat à travers le ministère de l’Habitat et du Développement urbain devrait apporter une solution définitive aux problèmes que connaissent les populations de ces quartiers en matière d’assainissement. A hauteur d’un milliard de F, la Communauté urbaine devra continuer d’intervenir dans le ramassage des ordures ménagères dans la ville.

Pour ce qui est de l’entretien de la voirie, en très mauvais état actuellement dans la capitale camerounaise, l’exécutif de la ville a prévu une dotation de 2,02 milliards de F sur fonds propres de la Communauté urbaine de Yaoundé. A cela, il faut ajouter la 6è phase des travaux d’extension de l’hôtel de ville de Yaoundé et la construction d’autres infrastructures à caractère commercial.

Au cours de la séance de vendredi dernier, les membres du Conseil de la Communauté urbaine de Yaoundé ont définitivement réglé le problème de la « Place André Fouda », par l’adoption de la délibération consacrant cet espace au centre ville.

Les travaux ont été conclus par la visite d’un ensemble de chantiers : l’extension de l’hôtel de ville, le palais des Congrès, les constructions engagées sur le site de l’ex-camp SIC Tsinga, la Place des jeunes de Yaoundé entre les quartiers Mvog Betsi, Etetak et Cité verte et le canal du Mfoundi.

Cameroon Tribune

Eto’o en 3è opérateur de téléphonie mobile


Set’Mobile, la marque d’Eto’o Telecom présentée jeudi à Douala ambitionne d’être un acteur majeur dans les TIC et œuvrer pour le développement économique et social des Camerounais.

Après avoir été ambassadeur d’une marque de téléphonie mobile au Cameroun, Samuel Eto’o lance sa propre marque. Présent hier au cours de la conférence de présentation de sa marque Set’Mobile, c’est le domaine des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication (TIC) que la capitaine des Lions indomptables a choisi pour « rendre au Cameroun ce qu’il lui a donné ».
n effet, le management du troisième opérateur de téléphonie mobile qui débarque sur le marché camerounais, veut faire de la marque un produit proche des aspirations des Camerounais. Pour Charles Gueret, administrateur directeur général de Set’Mobile, il y a largement de la place sur le marché Camerounais pour que l’entreprise fasse son trou. D’après une étude menée par un cabinet privée en août dernier, le marché camerounais est multi-équipé, avec près d’un client sur trois qui possède au moins deux cartes SIM.

Compte tenu de la demande et des indices économiques, 67% de gens sont près à changer d’opérateur, pourvu que celui-ci propose des services avantageux. Et c’est entre autres sur cette niche que compte s’engouffrer Se’Mobile.

Avec un capital social de 100 millions de F, Set’Mobile ambitionne de proposer des tarifs avantageux et des services correspondant aux goûts des Camerounais à travers un réseau de distribution de proximité et des produits de qualité. Cependant, les grilles tarifaires n’ont pas encore été dévoilées, même si le management promet « des surprises ». Des puces téléphoniques estampillées Set’Mobile sont du reste déjà en vente.

De fortes retombées sont également attendues en termes de création d’emplois directs et indirects. « Le taux de pénétration étant faible avec 49%, le marché de la téléphonie mobile au Cameroun accuse un retard par rapport à d’autres pays africains (85% pour le Gabon par exemple, ndlr). Nous voulons que les Camerounais aient un téléphone mobile, où qu’ils se trouvent dans le pays. Nous voulons être proche de nos clients.

Le pays étant vaste, nous avons besoin pour cela de ressources humaines compétentes », confie Charles Gueret. Par ailleurs, l’entreprise compte étendre ses ailes sur le continent africain. Dans un premier temps, Set’Mobile proposera des formules prépayées de téléphonie mobile. Les services de base offerts seront la voix, les SMS et Internet mobile. Des contenus innovants seront également proposés, basés sur les préférences des consommateurs en matière de musique, de jeux, de sport, etc.

Cameroon Tribune

December 28, 2011
Posted In:

Business
Français

Après Eto’o Télécom, on parle beaucoup de Huawei…

(Agence Ecofin) – Il y a six mois, en juin 2011, le ministre camerounais des Postes et des Télécommunications, Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam, annonçait l’entrée de deux nouveaux opérateurs dans le paysage des télécommunications pour le troisième trimestre 2011.

L’un de ces opérateurs est déjà connu: Eto’o Télécom, après avoir été officiellement lancé il y a peu, va démarrer ses activités le 21 janvier 2012.

Le quatrième opérateur devrait être révélé, si l’on s’en tient aux propos du ministre des Postes et des Télécommunications, au cours de cette dernière semaine de l’année 2011. Ou peut-être, avec un peu de retard, au début de 2012.

En attendant, des sources avancent le nom de la compagnie chinoise Huawei, par ailleurs partenaire de l’opérateur public Camtel.

Il y a six mois, les autorités camerounaises avaient aussi annoncé l’attribution de licences en 2012 à deux autres grands opérateurs.

Tous ces futurs arrivants vont permettre de briser le duopole exercé par les sociétés MTN et Orange. Pour les consommateurs, qui verront une véritable concurrence s’installer, une baisse substantielle des tarifs d’appel est l’un des grands avantages espérés de cette augmentation des acteurs des télécommunications mobiles. Quant à l’Etat du Cameroun, une plus grande ouverture du marché va lui permettre de bénéficier d’importantes ressources financières.

YooMee Live dope la vitesse de téléchargement

(Agence Ecofin) – Fournisseur d’accès Internet sans fil au Cameroun, YooMee vient de lancer YooMee Live, une nouvelle génération de Microsoft Windows Live, en partenariat avec Microsoft Cameroun.
Sur une seule interface, YooMee Live propose plusieurs fonctionnalités: gestion du courrier électronique, partage de photos, messagerie instantanée, intégration avec Facebook, YouTube, etc.

Jules Sylvain Koumbo, directeur des ventes, estime que « c’est plus bénéfique même pour un internaute de faire tout au même instant que de passer de fenêtre en fenêtre pour le même résultat ».

Avec YouMee Live, les Camerounais vont expérimenter des vitesses de téléchargement de 640 kbits, alors que la moyenne nationale oscille entre 256 et 128 kbits, parfois moins que cela. Bien que gratuit, le service est cependant réservé aux clients du fournisseur de service sans fil.

De l’avis du directeur général Stephane Abrahams, YooMee Live est « une autre manière de répondre aux exigences de nos clients qui doivent être à la pointe des industries de communication ».

Agence Ecofin
Il s’agit d’une plateforme intégrée en ligne qui offre aux utilisateurs, de manière très simplifiée, de nouveaux moyens de communication en ligne.

Frères, en diffusant tes infos, il est mieux de le traduire en Anglais pour la majorité des Anglophones dans ce forum. le français est une langue difficile à comprendre!

Frères, en diffusant tes infos, il est mieux de le traduire en Anglais pour la majorité des Anglophones dans ce forum. le français est une langue difficile à comprendre!

OK ! Tu as raison c comprit !!

AfDB finances gas-powered electricity project in Cameroon

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reached an agreement with other financiers to avail nearly 200 million euros to finance a gas-powered electricity project in Cameroon, the Tunis-based sovereign lender said in a statement Friday.

AfDB is lending 39.5 million euros to the Kribi Power Project in Cameroon. The Kribi project will help Cameroon to meet its growing demand for power, particularly during peak periods, and further stimulate the country‘s economic development, the bank said.

The Bank, along with other finance institutions including the World Bank’s private-lending arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), the Development Bank of Central Africa (BDEAC), Proparco, have agreed on a syndication of local banks led by Standard Chartered Bank.

The banks signed on 22 December a loan agreement to provide a total of 198 million euros to the Kribi Power Development Company (KPDC), a subsidiary of the AES Corporation of the US.

The American power company trades in 27 countries worldwide, in partnership with the Government of Cameroon, which owns 44% of the joint venture.

The project comprises the construction and operation of a 216 megawatt gas-fired power plant located in the north of the coastal city of Kribi, in the southern province of Cameroon with a 100 km 225 kV transmission line to be connected to the country’s Southern Interconnected Grid.

“It will provide increased reliability of electricity supply and enhanced energy security in Cameroon,” the AfDB said in its statement.

Tas Neside Anvaripour, AfDB’s Infrastructure finance manager, said the lack of reliable electricity was a key obstacle to doing business in Cameroon.

“The Kribi project will increase access to reliable energy. The use of domestic gas will capitalize on the country’s own resource and substitute for fuel imports,” she said.

“We are pleased to work with local banks in responding to Cameroon’s critical infrastructure needs,” she added.

The Kribi project will diversify Cameroon’s energy production sources through gas generation expansion while displacing inefficient thermal power plants.

The new energy mix will reduce environmental impact, including carbon emissions. The project will support the expansion of the aluminum industry in Cameroon

African Manager

Bharti Airtel plans to go to South Africa, Cameroon in 2012- Report

Bharti Airtel, India’s one of the major telecom service providers with operations in 19 countries in Asia and Africa is mulling expansion of its network in two more countries in the black continent. These countries are South Africa and Cameroon.
Despite incurring losses primarily because of its network expansion in Africa, roll-out of 3G services and tariff war in overcrowded telecom sector in India, its expansion plans in Africa may continue to unfold in 2012, according to media reports appearing in Africa.

The saturated markets in developed and economies particularly in Asia has forced many global players to look to Africa which still offers opportunities for mobile penetration. Other major players who are also offering services in the continent are Vodafone, MTN and Orange. It is believed that competition will get stiffer in 2012.

Currently Airtel offers services in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. By adding South Africa and Cameroon, two of Africa’s fastest growing mobile economies to the list, Airtel aims to strengthen its position in Africa.

TelecomTiger

Cameroon farmers turn dung into power

By Elias Ntungwe Ngalame

BAFUT, Cameroon – Starved of electricity but with plentiful methane-rich manure, rural livestock farmers in this heavily agricultural nation have become unlikely heroes and beneficiaries of Africa’s fight to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Take 46-year-old Juliana Mengue, who was widowed five years ago and has to care by herself for 40 cows on her a one-and-half acre farm in Bafut village in northwest Cameroon. A government program set up with the help of the Cameroon branch of global nonprofit Heifer International has turned her animals’ manure, more traditionally used only as a fertilizer in crop-farming, into fuel, boosting her family’s income.

As a result of the cheap bio-gas she produces, she is now able to spend more on medical care, education and on increasing her animal stock.
“We also use (the bio-gas) for lighting and heating, replacing our local bush lamps and the use of wood fuel,” she told reporters during a trip organized by the government to view demonstration bio-gas production centres set up in her village and two others nearby.

Mengue said her family has not only gained financially from the project but has also grown in understanding of the environment and climate change.

“We were not aware how much destruction the decomposing dung was doing to the environment. Now we have been told it releases tonnes of methane gas that is very harmful, she said.

Methane, released from manure, is a potent driver of climate change, and efforts to curb its release around the world now focus on everything from capturing the gas to produce biofuel to changing the diets of livestock so they produce less of it.

Jean Kuete, Cameroon’s agriculture minister, told reporters that the bio-gas effort is just one of a range of government initiatives aimed at improving the lives of livestock farmers and their communities through innovative, sustainable and low-cost projects.

NEW JOBS

With combined technical and financial support from a specialized service in the Ministry of Agriculture that educates farmers about new techniques, farmers from the villages of Bafut, Bamendakwe and Santa have begun bio-gas production alongside cattle rearing and farming, generating new jobs, said Abel Kemba, an expert working on behalf of the agriculture ministry to help farmers learn new techniques in the northwest region.

“The biogas energy production technology is relatively low cost, therefore permitting many livestock farmers to embrace it, integrated with their traditional farming, without any big financial assistance,” Kemba told Alertnet during the visit to Bafut.

Many of the farmers say the new technology has brought meaningful changes in their lives and to their community, especially given the spiralling cost of fuel.

Henry Njakoi, country director of Heifer International Cameroon, says the construction of bio-gas digesters in demonstration farms can generate enough gas for whole communities. Farmers pay only about a quarter of the $120 cost of a manure biodigester, with Heifer International and the Ministry of Agriculture footing the rest of the bill.

Heifer International works internationally to donate livestock, seeds, trees and other support to small-scale farmers with the aim of giving them a sustainable source of long-term support.

To produce bio-gas, farmers collect dung from their livestock – cows, pigs, goats or sheep – and carrry it by wheelbarrow to the tank of the biodigester. They then mix the manure with an equal amount of water and stir. The mixture is left to decompose for some time with the resulting methane gas settling in an upper compartment of the tank.

The biodigester has a capacity of 18 cubic metres and is reinforced with earth bricks and, if possible, cement to ensure it is airtight.

At the end of the decomposition process, the manure is removed and dried into pads that are later transported to local fields to be used as fertilizer, Njakoi said.

A second biodigester pioneer, Micheal Mbu, who breeds pigs and goats as well as caring for 50 cows, says the process is simple enough for any farmer to understand and assures consistent profit, especially for those who use this new source of energy for other income-generation projects.

“I have piped and connected the methane to 10 cookers with two burners each to ensure a constant supply of fuel. This is because I use the energy to bake potatoes and flour cake and bread. This cottage baking industry employs five persons,” he said.

The manure generated by the biodigestion process is high in urea and other nutrients needed by plants, Njakoi said, and is an effective fertilizer.

Eugene Ejolle Ehabe of the government-owned Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (IRAD) Bambui- Bamenda in northwest Cameroon said in an interview that bio-gas production from manure and other waste matter, be it from animals or humans, if replicated nationwide would save the country large volumes of fuel wood lost to domestic cooking and could significantly boost development.

He noted that only a fifth of rural households have electricity and, in urban areas only 40 percent of homes have access to power. Every year in Cameroon, thousands of trees are cut down for wood as well as charcoal, the main source of cooking energy for rural dwellers who constitute over 65 percent of the population according to official figures from the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, he noted.

“The production of bio-gas will reduce emissions of greenhouse gas, reduce deforestion,help preserve the forest and soil fertility, and above all improve the livelihood of farmers,” he said.

Reuters AlertNet

Cameroon Power Plants Start Output to Produce 100 Megawatts

Four diesel-fueled thermal plants in Cameroon have started tests to produce 100 megawatts of electricity amid plans to boost supplies, said Akamba Zengue, an official with the Electricity Development Corp.

The plants at Bamenda, Yaounde, Mbalmayo and Ebolowa are part of Cameroon’s emergency plan to increase output as construction continues at two hydroelectricity projects, he told reporters in Yaounde, the capital, yesterday.

Bloomberg

Kosmos to explore for oil in Cameroon

YAOUNDE Jan 12 (Reuters) – U.S. Kosmos Energy signed an agreement with Cameroon’s state oil company SNH on Thursday allowing it to explore in the central African state’s offshore Fako block, SNH said.

Kosmos will invest 9 billion CFA francs ($17.56 million) to explore within the 1,289-square-km block, which sits near Cameroon’s productive Rio del Rey and Kribi-Campo basins, for six years, SNH said in a statement.

The deal was signed by the vice president of Kosmos’ Cameroon subsidiary Christopher Stone and SNH manager Adolphe Moudiki, SNH said. It adds to Kosmos’ exploration efforts in two other Cameroon blocks, Kombe-N’Sepe and Ndian River.

Kosmos, backed by private equity firms Blackstone Group and Warburg Pincus, is focused on frontier areas in Western Africa and South America.

It helped discover in 2007 the Jubilee oil field offshore Ghana, which began pumping in late 2010.

Cameroon is one of Africa’s oldest oil producers but has seen output slump to around 65,000 bpd from 185,000 bpd at its peak in 1985.

Banana Production: Cameroon Targets 500,000 Tons Annually by 2013

Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Minister of Trade, on Wednesday January 11 launched the 2012 banana season in Limbe amidst Cameroon’s major producers; the CDC (Cameroon Development Corporation), the PHP (Penja Banana Plantations), and the SPM (Mbanga Banana Plantations). He underscored the challenges that await producers namely to maintain the banana sector on the lead as a major cash crop export. As such, he advocated inter-professional solidarity amongst producers and urged that the target production of 500,000 tons annually be met in line with government directives.

On his part, Mr. Henry Njalla Quan, President of Cameroon's Banana Producers (ASSOBACAM) and General Manager of the CDC, underscored the great employment that the banana sector offers to Cameroonians (13,243 workers) on a total banana cultivation surface of 7,404 hectares. He noted that Cameroon exported 247,210 tons of bananas in 2011 mainly to Europe. He affirmed that the producers were working to respect the target of 500,000 tons prescribed by government by 2013. He explained that banana production in Cameroon today is carried out by both the public and private sectors. In the case of the public sector, the CDC operates the Tiko Banana Project in partnership with Delmonte as well as the Banana Expansion Project, wholly owned by the CDC. Meanwhile, in the private domain, banana is produced by the PHP Group, SPM and the BOH Plantations.

SABMiller pourrait reprendre les Brasseries du Cameroun

Le brasseur sud-africain SABMiller a exprimé hier son intérêt pour un éventuel rachat de l’activité brassicole du groupe français Castel en Afrique après l'annonce d'un renforcement de leurs liens sur ce continent.
En 2001, SABMiller et Castel avaient établi une alliance qui avait conduit le groupe sud-africain à prendre une participation de 20% dans la branche bières et de boissons non-alcoolisées de Castel en Afrique. Simultanément, Castel avait acquis 38% de la filiale africaine de SABMiller.

Les deux sociétés disposent d'un droit de préemption sur les activités de brasserie de l'autre en Afrique. SABMiller a déclaré que ces droits étaient désormais « clarifiés et amplifiés » et que, «à la lumière de nos recoupements en Afrique, nous serions évidemment intéressés par l'acquisition de la part de Castel dans notre alliance ».

L’enjeu porte sur des volumes annuels de plus de 21 millions d’hectolitres, soit trois fois plus que ce que produit SAB Miller en Afrique aujourd’hui.

Le rachat éventuel de Castel, n°2 de la bière présent essentiellement en Afrique francophone (Cameroun, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso…), serait estimé à 4,7 milliards d’euros.

Video describing the future deep sea port complex in Kribi town (South region of Cameroon)


http://www.presidenceducameroun.com/prc_tv/index.php?intChannelId=70&intVideoId=777

Coopération  : La Corée du Sud aux… urgences

Le pays apporte son concours pour la construction du central national dédié à cette cause.

Le Premier ministre, Philemon Yang a procédé hier à la pose de la première pierre du Centre national des urgences de Yaoundé, à l’esplanade de l’hôpital central de Yaoundé. Ce centre sera construit et équipé avec le concours de la République de Corée. D’où la présence de l’ambassadeur de Corée au Cameroun, Cho June-Hyuck, aux côtés d’un parterre de membres du gouvernement dont les ministres Mama Fouda (Santé publique), Issa Tchiroma (Communication), Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo (Relations extérieures), Catherine Bakang Mbock (Affaires sociales).

Le Centre national des urgences a une vocation traumatologique et permettra notamment de regrouper au sein d’une même structure les prises en charge pré hospitalières (Samu) et hospitalières des urgences médico-chirurgicales. «Il contribuera de manière significative à une meilleure prise en charge des urgences et servira de relais pour l’ensemble des formations sanitaires du pays», a déclaré le ministre de la Santé publique, André Mama Fouda.
Sur le plan infrastructurel, le projet qui occupe un site de 4500 m2 environ est organisé autour d’un bâtiment de type rez-de-chaussée plus deux étages comprenant les principaux services suivants : deux salles de prise en charge des urgences vitales traumatologiques et non traumatologiques, deux salles d’opération, une unité de traitement des brûlés graves, une unité d’imagerie médicale, une unité de prise en charge pré hospitalière, une unité d’hospitalisation de courte durée, un laboratoire et une pharmacie.

Sur le plan des équipements, ce centre sera doté d’un scanner et huit barrettes, un appareil de radiologie conventionnelle, d’un système de numérisation, des moniteurs de surveillance des paramètres physiologiques des patients, d’un équipement chirurgical pluridisciplinaire pour deux salles d’opération, de deux ambulances de réanimation, etc. Le coût prévisionnel du projet est estimé à 2.200.000.000 (deux milliards deux cent millions) Fcfa. La contribution coréenne est de 1.600.000.000 (un milliard six cent millions) Fcfa et 600 millions sont à la charge du Cameroun. Les travaux de construction de cet ouvrage vont s’étendre sur 12 mois. Selon l’ambassadeur de Corée au Cameroun, ce projet confirme la bonne santé de la relation bilatérale Séoul-Yaoundé. La coopération entre les deux pays, a déclaré Cho June-Hyuck, va d’ailleurs s’étendre sur le plan agricole, avec la remise d’un don de matériel agricole, la semaine prochaine, pour booster la production de riz au Cameroun. La pose de la première pierre pour la construction de trois centre de formation professionnelle est également annoncée.

Gaz de Logbaba :Les premières ventes effectuées le 17 décembre 2011


L’annonce est de Victoria Oil and Gas (Vog), l’entreprise britannique détenant 95% des parts du projet implanté à Douala 3e.D’après le top management de l’entreprise, les premières livraisons de gaz se sont passées dans la zone de la Mission d’aménagement et de gestion des zones industrielles (Magzi). « C’est une importante avancée pour notre entreprise, Victoria Oil and Gas a aujourd’hui migré de son statut d’entreprise d’exploration et de développement de gaz vers une structure de production et de commercialisation. Pour les populations de Douala, c’est aussi une bonne nouvelle, les travaux de la première phase de pose de pipeline se sont bien déroulés, et sans incidents majeurs », a déclaré Kevin Foo, le manager général de cette entreprise, cité par le site d’information Journalducameroun. « Ces premières ventes pour l’entreprise britannique, représentent trois années d’efforts, de travail qui sont devenus fructueuses, grâce aux soutiens de l’actionnariat de notre groupe dont je remercie la patience, mais aussi grâce à l’engagement du gouvernement camerounais qui aura été un acteur majeur de notre progression », a-t-il poursuivi.

Les réserves mises en évidence font état de près de 212 milliards de mètres cubes de gaz en volume et près de 4,2 millions de barils de condensat. L’entreprise annonce que deux puits sont déjà productifs et que d’autres sont en cours de mise en service. Les réserves annoncées et non encore atteintes seraient beaucoup plus importantes. Les responsables de VOG sont confiants sur la croissance en termes de production et de fourniture de gaz. Pour le moment, apprend-on, l’entreprise britannique compte déjà dans son portefeuille clients 13 entreprises, dont la plupart sont des filiales de multinationales. « Des négociations sont en cours avec 10 autres clients », soulignent nos sources.

A Rodeo Developpement Limited (Rdl), la filiale camerounaise de Vog, tout est mis en œuvre pour boucler des accords d’ici la première moitié de l’année 2012. Autre information de taille, le maintien du prix de vente du mètre cube à 8000 F Cfa. Pour le moment, il s’agit uniquement de gaz industriel. L’entreprise a déjà dit qu’elle ne commercialiserait pas le gaz domestique. Du moins ce n’est pas encore à l’ordre du jour.

Mise à jour le Mardi, 17 Janvier 2012 09:32

LeYard pétrolier de Limbé, un saut industriel au bord de l’Atlantique


Près de 5000 emplois directs et indirects sont attendus de ce projet porteur pour l’industrie navale dans le golfe de Guinée. Sur l’axe Limbé-Idenau dans la région du Sud-Ouest Cameroun, se dresse un projet géant au bord de l’océan Atlantique. C’est dans le petit village de Limbola, à près de 3 kilomètres de la ville balnéaire de Limbé, que le projet de construction d’un chantier naval a pris ses quartiers.

Un projet structurant, à vocation régionale. Selon des responsables du Chantier naval et industriel du Cameroun (CNIC), entreprise qui réalise le projet, « Limbe Shipyard » a pour objectif principal de fournir des services de qualité à des clients qui opèrent notamment dans les champs pétroliers offshore dans le golfe de Guinée. Ce projet qui s’ajoute aux services fournis à partir du port de Douala, va consolider et diversifier les activités en réparation des navires, réparations des plates-formes pétrolières, services d’ingénierie industrielle onshore et offshore, et les services logistiques offshore.

Le choix de Limbe pour la réalisation de ce projet n’est pas fortuit. À Limbola, on va installer le yard pétrolier sur un site qui lui offre un kilomètre de front de mer, 100 hectares de plan d’eau, 60 hectares de terre-pleins. Le site offre de grandes profondeurs à proximité de la côte et surtout une eau claire permettant des inspections sous-marines (12 m en marée basse).

Au bout de la mise en place du yard pétrolier, ce sont trois mille emplois directs qui vont ainsi être créés, à côté de deux mille autres indirects. Il s’agit là d’une action parlante dans le cadre de la lutte contre la pauvreté. Le chiffre d’affaires actuel (plus de vingt milliards de francs CFA par an) pourrait à terme s’élever à 100 milliards de francs CFA). Si le yard pétrolier de Limbé va rapporter de l’argent (en devises) à l’économie camerounaise à travers l’activité générée, il contribuera aussi à faire connaître le pays à l’extérieur.

Ce projet va aussi permettre au Cameroun de faire « un saut extraordinaire » à travers l’élargissement de sa base industrielle. Une large palette de métiers allant de la chaudronnerie à l’électricité en passant par la soudure, les peintures ou la mécanique trouve dans la réalisation du yard pétrolier un terrain d’expression. La mise en œuvre de ce projet au Cameroun par des nationaux augmentera également la crédibilité des dossiers soumis par le Cameroun aux bailleurs de fonds. Dans ce monde des affaires où la confiance compte autant que l’argent, ce n’est pas le moindre mérite du yard pétrolier de Limbé.

En raison de son immensité, sa raison d’être et sa portée, le projet du chantier naval de Limbé est déjà classé comme le deuxième plus grand projet infrastructurel au Cameroun après le pipeline Tchad-Cameroun, selon des experts. Ficelé en 2003, le projet a débuté en 2005 comme un joint venture avec des financements provenant de la Banque africaine du développement (BAD), la Banque islamique de développement (BID), la Banque de développement des États de l’Afrique centrale (BDEAC) ainsi que les gouvernements danois, britannique, allemand, camerounais, etc. La BAD finance 37, 6% du projet, ce qui lui confère le statut de plus grand partenaire financier de cette réalisation.

Progressivement, le yard pétrolier de Limbe prend forme avec des infrastructures visibles comme le quai, du matériel flottant, les ateliers hangars. Le quai en service depuis 2007 mesure 100 m de longueur, 21 m de largeur et 5 m de profondeur.

Pour l’histoire, il convient de rappeler que c’est en 1982 que l’idée de la mise en place d’un chantier naval au Cameroun est lancée. Six ans plus tard, naît l’entreprise. Malheureusement, elle vient au monde dans un contexte de crise économique. Des experts venus de la Banque mondiale prescrivent un remède connu : la liquidation. La décision doit être prise au sommet de l’État. Paul Biya décide de ne pas appliquer cette thérapeutique. Il veut voir le projet transféré à Limbé. Or, il faut plus de cent quarante milliards de francs CFA pour sa réalisation complète. Mais où trouver une telle somme d’argent ?

Fort heureusement, un élément de géostratégie vient de donner un coup de pouce au projet camerounais. Les États-Unis, tirant les leçons de la situation politique dans le Golfe Persique, entreprennent de diversifier leurs sources d’approvisionnement en pétrole. Ils se tournent vers le golfe de Guinée d’où ils importent déjà 15% de leur consommation de pétrole (du Nigeria à l’Angola). L’objectif est de faire monter le seuil de ces importations en provenance d’Afrique centrale à 25% dans les dix prochaines années. Cette option stratégique américaine entraîne dans son sillage le développement des activités parapétrolières dans la zone. Le Chantier naval et industriel du Cameroun saute sur l’occasion et se lance, en 1998, dans la réhabilitation des plates-formes pétrolières, une activité industrielle nécessitant une maîtrise parfaite des techniques et de la technologie.

Badjang ba Nken

Oil production: a happy outlook for Cameroon

Faced with the declining trend of oil production in Cameroon, the National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH), whose mission is to promote and develop the mining country, does not remain idle. Indeed, it works with its partners, to reverse as soon as possible the current curve. Met on January 12 in Yaounde, on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of a production sharing contract for oil exploration in the block Fako, the production manager at SNH, Bernard Bahiya, unveiled the first results expected battery of measures deployed by the company and the operators. "We are currently developing new fields that will allow to increase the current production, about 63,000 barrels per day, 90,000 or 100,000 barrels per day by the end of 2012," he said. Adding that "to achieve this goal, the SNH building on the development of the field of dissonance in the Rio del Rey to be put into production in August 2012. This field will provide additional production of between 17,000 and 20,000 barrels per day. We have an ongoing development on the field of Baf in the area of ​​Kribi-Campo. Some wells have already been put into production, others are being drilled. And we have additional developments that will be conducted in the area belonging to Addax Petroleum Cameroon in the area of ​​Mokoko-Abana, which will bring a surplus of production in the second half of 2012. " In these activities in order, says Bernard Bahiya, you must include the reopening of many wells that were closed and the optimization of production facilities.

Furthermore, in an editorial on the campaign of exploration drilling to the substantial increase in reserves to be produced (the 35th edition of SNH Info), the deputy CEO of the SNH, Adolphe Moudiki, made some announcements confirming optimism in the medium term reversal of the trend. He cited in particular the first successes of the operator EurOil, who announced his discovery of the second Etinde allowed in the pool of Douala / Kribi-Campo, after the drilling of the Sapele-2 in block MLHP -5, a height of 35. Then, the discovery by the operator Yan Chang, after drilling its first exploration well on block contract Zina / Makary, in the basin of Logone-Birni genetically linked to those of Doba and Daséo where oil production comes from Chad.

Good to know, in 2011, Cameroon's oil production was 21.700 million barrels, against 23.314 million barrels in 2010 and 26.679 million barrels in 2009. According to the NHC, the decline is resulting from the depletion of natural fields and downtime associated with obsolete production facilities, then the postponement of operations because of the announcement of their withdrawal by some partners.

Le Cameroun devient le point d’atterrissement de trois câbles sous-marins

(Agence Ecofin) – Alors que le câble SAT3 arrive bientôt à saturation, deux nouveaux autres câbles sous-marins de télécommunications débarquent sur la côte camerounaise.

Le câble WACS (West African Câble System), installé par MTN, est déjà en place à Limbe, au sud ouest du pays. Il sera opérationnel dès la signature du protocole d’entente avec l’opérateur de téléphonie sud- africain.

Quant au câble ACE de la compagnie Orange, il partira de Kribi, au sud du pays. Les négociations sont très avancées, selon le secrétaire général du ministère des Postes et Télécommunications, Edouard Ebah Abada: « La pose des points d’atterrissement, outre qu’elle permet la diversification la diversification des offres, mais en plus d’augmenter la capacité d’accès de notre pays aux autoroutes mondiales de l’information, rend disponible beaucoup de capacités, avec tout ce que cela comporte d’impact en terme de baisse des communications », a-t-il déclaré.

Selon le ministère le Cameroun totalisera bientôt « près de 6000 kilomètres de câbles de fibre optique, couvrant les dix chefs-lieux de régions, une quarantaine de chefs-lieux de départements et plusieurs chefs- lieux d’arrondissements ».

Le Cameroun va approvisionner le Golfe arabique en fruits et légumes


Des partenaires du monde arabe sont intéressés par les fruits et légumes made in Cameroun.La révélation est du ministre du Commerce Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana. Il a rencontré jeudi dernier les horticulteurs de la région du Centre à la mairie de Mfou dans la Mefou et Afamba. Objectif, s’enquérir des types de fruits et légumes produits ainsi que les capacités de production à court et à long terme en vue d’un possible démarrage des exportations en mars prochain. Au cours des échanges, l’on a notamment abordé la question des normes internationales, de la formation de ces agriculteurs entre autres. Le Mincommerce a prescrit aux horticulteurs le regroupement pour l’optimisation et une maîtrise des taux de production, ainsi qu’un meilleur accompagnement par le gouvernement. Question de mieux profiter de ce débouché en or. « Prenez-vous en charge, créez, innovez, osez, nous allons vous aider », a-t-il déclaré.

La veille, mercredi, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana se sera livré au même exercice avec les horticulteurs de la région du Littoral à Njombe. Dans cette ville considérée comme le « grenier du Littoral », les producteurs se sont aussi déclarés aptes pour l’aventure, pour peu que quelques conditions soient remplies. Entre autres, un appui technique et financier, l’aménagement des routes agricoles pour faciliter le déplacement des cultivateurs et commerçants vers les plantations, mais aussi l’écoulement des produits vers les zones de stockage.

Selon Kalkaba Malboum, président du conseil d’administration de Kawadji Trading Investment (KBI), partenaire du gouvernement camerounais dans ce projet, « il s’agit de renforcer les échanges économiques entre le Golfe de Guinée et le Golfe Arabique. » Il ajoute que la banane, l’ananas, la papaye et la mangue, des produits dont le Cameroun possède l’expérience en matière d’exportation, seront privilégiés dans un premier temps. L’élargissement du projet aux autres fruits devant intervenir une fois la confiance établie avec ces clients d’Asie. Pour le ministre du Commerce, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, le projet de conquête du marché du Golfe arabique a pour principaux objectifs de créer de la richesse, de réduire le déficit de la balance commerciale et de lutter contre la pauvreté en zone rurale.

La concertation de Mfou s’est achevée par une visite des stands d’horticulture. Une exposition d’ananas, de pamplemousses, de papayes, agréables au regard, a illustré une petite démonstration de la force de production des agriculteurs de la Mefou et Afamba.

India’s Bharti Airtel, Monaco Telecom battle for Cameroon mobile license


YAOUNDE, Cameroon (Dow Jones)–Indian mobile telecom giant Bharti Airtel (53245.BY), Monaco Telecom, a unit of Britain’s Cable & Wireless PLC (CWC.LN, CWIXF), and Vietnam’s Vietel are in talks with Cameroon’s ministry of telecommunications to buy a third permit to operate part of the country’s mobile phone sector, state-run daily “Cameroon Tribune” reported Thursday.

The new firm will join South Africa’s Mobile Telecommnications Network, or MTN Cameroon, and Orange Cameroon to operate in the West African nation’s fast-growing mobile telephony business.

Both MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon jointly control an estimated 7 million mobile phone subscribers among the country’s 20 million inhabitants, according to government figures.

“We’re already at the final phase of the negotiations and anytime from now,” Cameroon’s Telecommunications Minister Jean Pierre Biyiti bi Essam told the newspaper in an interview.

He declined to give a date for the winning bidder to be chosen, recalling that the process of choosing a third operator is very rigorous.

“This is business. The negotiations are on and we want that whoever of the bidders to be chosen has to invest and be able to withstand the weight of the already existing operators,” said Minister Essam.

The Cameroon government launched tender for the privatization of its third segment of Cameroon-run mobile phone telephony in May, a decade after MTN and Orange acquired the first licenses.

-By Emmanuel Tumanjong / Dow Jones Newswires

Pipeline Tchad-Cameroun: 85,5 milliards de Fcfa de bénéfices en 8 ans

Au second semestre de l’année 2012 courante, le pipeline Tchad-Cameroun va accueillir du pétrole appartenant à de nouveaux exploitants en activité au Tchad. Selon le Comité de pilotage et de suivi des pipelines (Cpsp) qui annonce la nouvelle dans sa dernière publication, il s’agit des productions des entreprises China National Petroleum Company et Griffiths International.

Théoriquement, le transport de ces nouvelles cargaisons par l’oléoduc Tchad-Cameroun devrait augmenter le nombre d’enlèvements effectués au terminal de Kribi et, partant, le montant des droits de passage du pétrole tchadien engrangé par le Trésor public camerounais.

Pour l’instant, souligne la dernière «lettre du Cpsp», ces enlèvements sont au nombre de 462 depuis l’entrée en activité du pipeline Tchad-Cameroun le 3 octobre 2003. 417 millions de barils de pétrole ont ainsi été enlevés, pour des retombées financières totales de 171 millions de dollars, soit 85,5 milliards de Fcfa, dont près de 7 milliards de Fcfa en 2011. Mais à bien y regarder, cette somme gagnée par le Trésor public camerounais est bien minable.

En effet, diverses sources autorisées et des documents comptables révèlent que 3 ans seulement après l’entrée en activité de cet oléoduc, le consortium constitué des sociétés pétrolières Exxon-Mobil, Petronas et Chevron-Texaco, avait déjà réussi à empocher la totalité des 2300 milliards de Fcfa investis dans ce projet.

Ceci grâce à l’embellie des cours du pétrole brut sur le marché mondial. Traduction?: depuis 2006, le consortium ayant amorti son investissement assez rapidement, les ressources tirées de la vente du pétrole tchadien par ces compagnies pétrolières sont enregistrées à la rubrique bénéfices. Alors que le Cameroun se contente, en 8 ans, de revenus de 85,5 milliards de Fcfa seulement.

Droit de transit Dans le but de rétablir ce qu’il avait alors appelé «la justice économique», Adolphe Moudiki, président du Cpsp et administrateur directeur général (Adg) de la Société nationale des hydrocarbures (Snh), avait révélé au cours d’une cérémonie organisée à Douala en 2009, l’ambition du gouvernement camerounais de renégocier le contrat avec Cotco (la société qui exploite le pipeline pour le compte du consortium sus mentionné).

Afin que, avait-il précisé, «les revenus du Cameroun [ne soient plus] inversement proportionnels» à l’embellie des cours mondiaux du pétrole, dont celui du Tchad qui transite par le territoire camerounais.

Le 5 juillet 2011, l’alors ministre des Finances, Essimi Menyé, emboitant le pas à l’Adg de la Snh au cours d’une négociation très serrée avec Cotco sur le financement du déplacement du pipeline sur le site du futur barrage de Lom pangar, avait également dit le désir du gouvernement de renégocier le contrat sur le droit de transit du pétrole tchadien.

Sauf que le grand argentier national de l’époque avait été plus précis sur les attentes de la partie camerounaise. «Nous n’allons pas demander une réévaluation du droit de transit. Nous voulons simplement l’équivalent de ce droit en pétrole», avait-il révélé. Le successeur d’Essimi Menyé aux Finances va-t-il suivre la même voie, ou alors va-t-il simplement laisser tomber ce projet qui semblait déjà être une pilule difficile à avaler pour Cotco?? En tout cas, troquer le droit de transit par du pétrole brut recèle l’avantage de pouvoir permettre au Cameroun de tirer profit de l’embellie des cours mondiaux de l’or noir, en vendant lui-même la cargaison reçue.

Quotidien Mutations

Cameroon wants Chad oil contract renegotiated

Cameroon wants a new contract with Chad over transportation of oil.

Since October 3, 2003 when Chadian crude oil started transiting through Cameroon, the government has earned a total of $171 million (Sh14,877bn) by way of charges to the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO).During that period, 417 million barrels of Chadian crude oil has been transported through Cameroon by COTCO for the consortium of petroleum companies exploiting Chadian crude namely Exxon-Mobil, Petronas and Chevron-Texaco.

However, very reliable sources with knowledge of the financial operations of the petroleum exploitation companies in Chad, have revealed that three years after the oil started flowing in 2006, the companies had already recovered all the money they invested on the project totaling about $4.6 billion.

Though the Cameroon government has never informed the public as to the modalities and basis on which payments for the transportation of Chadian oil through Cameroonian territory are calculated, sources say government now wants a renegotiation of the transportation contract with COTCO.

Daily Nation

projet de construction de 4 lignes de chemin de fer pour plus de 8.464 milliards FCFA
Article lu 46 fois
Écrit par afriquinfos.com
Samedi, 04 Février 2012 08:36


En marge d'un plan directeur ferroviaire national présenté vendredi à Yaoundé et visant à améliorer le réseau actuel long seulement d'un millier de kilomètres, le gouvernement camerounais envisage de construire 4 lignes de chemin de fer prioritaires à court terme, d'un coût de 8. 464,256 milliards USD (soit près de 17 milliards USD).

Usé par quatre décennies d'exploitation et aux normes dépassées, le réseau actuel relie le Sud et le Nord du Cameroun. A l'étude depuis 2009, le nouveau tracé se veut aux standards modernes avec un rail de 50 kg et un écartement de 1,435 cm, selon les experts du ministère camerounais de l'Economie, de la Planification et de l'Aménagement du territoire.

« Ces caractéristiques faciliteront l'acquisition des équipements mobiles (locomotives, wagons) et un système de signalisation adapté au réseau de fibre optique (télésignalisation) ; ce qui laisse espérer sur ce linéaire une vitesse comprise entre 170 et 150 km/h sur les trains de voyageurs ; entre 90 km et 70 km/ h pour les trains de marchandises », souligne une note d'information de ce ministère.

Pour le ministre de l'Economie, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, « la mise en oeuvre d'un chemin de fer moderne dans notre pays emporte par l'exploitation de nos ressources naturelles, l'optimisation des coûts grâce au renforcement de notre secteur secondaire ; c'est un défi. Ensemble, nous le relèverons ».

« En conséquence, nos minerais de fer seront aisément exploités grâce au nouveau chemin de fer ; la mise en place d'une industrie sidérurgique pour la production locale de l'acier facilitera l'essor du secteur des infrastructures en général », a-t-il ajouté.

Avec pour objectif en effet de faciliter l'essor industriel du Cameroun et d'asseoir la compétitivité de l'économie national de ce pays d'Afrique centrale, quatre lignes sont prévues pour la phase initiale dont les faisabilités des itinéraires devraient être bouclées en fin 2012, afin que 2013 soit consacrée aux dispositions conformes au démarrage des travaux.

D'une distance de 907,5 km, le tronçon Ngaoundéré-Bertoua- Douala (entre le Nord et le Sud) comporte un coût de 4.545,195 milliards de francs CFA. Du gisement de fer de Mbalam (Est) à Lolabè où est construit près de la ville balnéaire Kribi (Sud) un port en eau profonde, un tracé de 602,6 km est envisagé, pour un investissement de 3.109,390 milliards.

Entre Douala, la métropole économique, et Limbe, ville balnéaire du Sud-Ouest non moins industrielle, une ligne de 73,5 km est prévue pour un coût de 340.967 milliards, tandis que 468. 708 milliards entendent être mobilisés pour Edéa et Kribi par un chemin de fer de 136 km.

A part Ngaoundéré-Bertoua-Douala à 150 km/h, les trois autres tronçons devront être parcourus à 120 km/h. Pour certains d'entre eux comme Mbalam-Lolabè, le principe de double voie est annoncé. De l'avis des responsables du ministère de l'Economie, les coûts déclarés intègrent à la fois les travaux de construction de ce réseau ferroviaire et l'acquisition des équipements.

D'une estimation globale de 14.976,50 milliards de francs CFA, huit autres projets de moyen terme sont au menu, avec pour objectif cette fois de densifier le réseau national de l'Est à l'Ouest et du Nord au Sud. Des interconnexions avec les pays voisins (Tchad, Centrafrique, Congo, République démocratique du Congo, Gabon, Guinée équatoriale, Nigeria, Angola) sont au programme.

World Bank sees Cameroon’s 2012 growth at 5.5 %


- Cameroon’s economy to growth by 5.5 pct in 2012

- Oil production to seen to grow by 15 pct

Feb 6 (Reuters) – Cameroon’s economy is expected to grow by 5.5 percent in 2012 despite the Arab spring and a sovereign debt crisis that has hurt the European zone, the central African nation’s most important export partner, a World Bank official said on Monday.

Non-oil economic activities particularly growth in the primary and tertiary sectors, which helped Cameroon’s economy grow in 2011 to 4.1 percent, will be the main drivers, World Bank’s region lead economist Raju Jan Singh, told a news conference.

Singh said the economic momentum observed in Cameroon, the Central African region’s largest economy and gateway port, was expected to carry over into 2012 due to various infrastructure projects.

“Furthermore, the trend in declining oil production is expected to reverse. As a result, Cameroon economic growth could amount to 5.5 percent in 2012,” Singh said.

Singh said the economic slowdown in the Euro zone will probably translate into lower exports and remittances as Europe remains Cameroon’s largest market and hosts the largest community of Cameroonians abroad.

However, oil production contracted by 10 percent in 2011 due to depleting reserves and aging equipment but significant exploration in the last two years will see oil production grow by 15 percent in 2012, Singh said.

Cameroon’s oil output has fallen by two-thirds since the 1980s to about 66,000 barrels per day.

The country’s President Paul Biya, 78, who won reelection in October, plans to build roads, power plants, and a deep sea port while boosting investments in the mining sector, with the goal of securing emerging market status for the country by 2035.

Aside from its oil, Cameroon, the world’s fifth cocoa producer, is the region’s main port and breadbasket, supplying Chad, Central African Republic, Congo Republic and Gabon.

The International Monetary Fund has said Cameroon is performing below its potential because of lack of infrastructure and administrative hurdles that were hurting business.

Singh said though Cameroon has improved its ranking in the 2012 Doing Business, moving up seven places compared with 2011, its investment climate remains overall unfavourable to the development of the business sector.

Reporting by Tansa Musa/ Reuters

Cameroon: The Cardiopad - an African Invention to Save Lives
By Anne Mireille Nzouankeu, 7 February 2012

Yaoundé — A young Cameroonian engineer has built the first fully touch screen medical tablet that could soon save many African lives. He first has to find the necessary funding to mass-produce the device.

In a country that has only 30 heart surgeons for more than 20 million people, the dream of Arthur Zang, a 24-year-old Cameroonian engineer, is to facilitate the treatment of patients with a heart disease across Cameroon.

Save lives

In 2010, he created a digital tablet known as Cardiopad: "It's the first fully touch screen medical tablet made in Cameroon and in Africa. It's an invention that could save numerous human lives", explains Arthur Zang.

In fact, Cameroon's thirty heart specialists are all based in either Douala or Yaoundé, the country's economic and political capitals. Heart patients often have to travel across the country for a consultation.

Appointments sometimes must be made months in advance, leading to death of some patients.

Hassle of travelling

The Cardiopad solves this problem by enabling medical examinations to be performed remotely and the results transmitted electronically, saving patients the hassle of having to travel to the city.

Arthur Zang explains that the Cardiopad is above all a scientific project. He started his research three years ago and carried out several scientific tests that were validated by the Cameroonian scientific community. "The reliability of the Cardiopad is 97.5%", he says.

Distance consultation

In practice, the Cardiopad is a device that can perform tests such as the electrocardiogram (ECG). The medical tablet also makes it possible to wirelessly send the results of the tests from remote locations to the specialist who will then interpret them.

"The tablet is used as a classical electrocardiograph device: electrodes are placed on the patient and connected to a module that, in turn, connects to the tablet. When a medical examination is performed on a patient in a remote village, for example, the results are transmitted from the nurse's tablet to that of the doctor who then interprets them.

Digitalised and transmitted

Software built into the device allow the doctor to give computer assisted diagnosis", explains the young engineer.

Pointing out the differences between the Cardiopad and the classical electrocardiograph, Arthur Zang explains: "The Cardiopad has more functions. With the classical electrocardiograph, the results were usually printed on paper and handed to the cardiologist for interpretation.

It wasn't possible to send or save the results electronically. With the Cardiopad, the results are digitalised and transmitted. There is no need to print them, the heart surgeon can interpret them, even remotely, from his tablet and then send the diagnosis and prescribed treatment"

Accessibility

"The Cardiopad will cut down the cost of examination. We intend to sell the device for 1500 euros, while the current price for an electrocardiograph device is 3800 euros. If hospitals purchase the device at a low price, they will be able to lower the prices of medical examinations", Arthur Zang hopes.

However, there is still the issue of energy, as many of the country's remote regions do not have access to electricity. "The Cardiopad is equipped with a battery that can independently power the machine for more than seven hours", the engineer assures.

He further explains that a prototype and sample of device is already available. "We are currently producing the first units of the device which will be available for hospitals before July", says the young engineer who is still looking for funding to mass-produce the Cardiopad. "Besides the funding, I am also looking to start a company to help improve the medical care system in Cameroon", he concludes.

The X-net phone, designed and built by Cameroonians was presented last Friday Yaoundé.X-net phone. Make no mistake about this British-sounding name. This is indeed the name of the first mobile phone, fully designed, configured, parameterized and developed by engineers Cameroonians living abroad. Namely two in Germany and third in the United States of America. For security reasons, their names were not revealed at the presentation ceremony of the X-net phone last Friday in Yaounde. According to Emmanuel Ndenguebi, telecommunications engineer, also associated with the project, X-net phone can hold two SIM cards.

It works in all Cameroonian localities covered by the Mobile Network. The X-net phone which, according to its promoters, will be marketed by the Cameroonian company L & F in two weeks, has an alphanumeric keypad backlight. Its screen is capable of displaying photos and video files. All at a price that reflects the purchasing power of Cameroonians: it will cost 10,500 CFA francs (without camera) and 12,500 CFA francs (with camera).

In addition, this cell phone is equipped with Mp3/Mp4 player, a high definition camera and a radio Fm. It also has a flashlight, a speakerphone and Bluetooth. The phone's music was composed by a Cameroonian artist. In the image box of the phone, you can admire the splendor of the beaches of Kribi or the beauty of the Palais des Congres in Yaounde. In short, this is, one breath of the project partners, "a pride of Cameroon." The X-net phone, the first telephone made ​​in Cameroon, is used in three languages​​: French, English and Spanish.

Cameroon: 15 000 billion FCFA to develop a rail network


Agence (ECOFIN) - The mega project underpins major economic implications: constant increase of gross domestic product of 4.75% per year, 600,000 jobs, reduced imports of raw materials, creation of associated industries ...

The plan as devised by the South Korean partners, provides, over a period ranging from 2012 to 2020, construction, short, medium and long terms of efficient transport network to modern standards with a rail of 50 Kg and a spacing of 1.435 mm, for step up exchanges at national and subregional levels.

The realization of the new infrastructure will be based on three main areas, including service to industrial areas.

According to Daniel Zoa Abuna, head of infrastructure and support to local and regional development to the Minister of Economy, Planning and Land Use (MINEPAT), the implementation of the new infrastructure will be based on three main axes, serving industrial areas.

In the short term, it is envisaged the construction of the sections Edea / port of Kribi (136 km, 468.7 billion) and Mbalam / port of Kribi (602.6 km, 3,109 billion). It is well to connect the main ports to mining areas of the country to bring out the domestic industry. This first phase includes the construction of sections Douala / Limbe (73.5 km, 341 billion) and Ngaoundere / Douala (907.5 km, 4,545 billion). Feasibility studies on these sections should be finalized this year.

Second axis, it is interconnected cities. In addition Transcam I (Douala / Yaounde, 264 km) and Transcam II (Yaoundé / Belabo and Belabo / Ngaoundere, 620 km), it will, in the short term, to expand the network through the stretch in Limbe Douala / Limbe. In the medium term, extending the network will affect Kousseri, Kumba, Wum, Gamboula, Foumban, Bafoussam, Mora, Ngolya, and Jakiri Mintom.

Then in the third stage it is planned interconnections with neighboring countries: Chad, Central Africa, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Democratic Congo and Angola. The objective is to capture an increasing traffic.

The program presentation was held at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel, chaired by Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Minister of Economy, Planning and Land Use (MINEPAT) in the presence of his counterpart Jacques Fame Ndongo Higher Education

http://www.agenceecofin.com/investissement/0702-3253-cameroun-15-000-milliards-fcfa-pour-developper-un-reseau-ferroviaire

Cameroon: satisfactory bank balance, but ...


Agence (ECOFIN) - With 2.5 trillion of deposits against 1.725 trillion credit, the situation of the banking sector in Cameroon, although reassuring in some respects, still needs to improve to really play its role in economic development announced.

In a report on the financial situation addressed in the national representation at the end of last year, the diagnosis made by service of the Ministry of Finance (Minfi) is reassuring, "the financial situation is characterized by the first quarter 2011 growth Credit to the economy in a favorable macroeconomic environment and an accommodative monetary policy. " The same report indicates that the financing of the economy by banks remains oriented towards large companies. However, the financial sector, meanwhile, characterized by a low rate of banking services, limited access for SMEs, a decrease in bank liquidity and disorientation of the external position of banks.

In detail, the Minfi noted that between 2009 and 2010, banking was characterized by lower external assets of banks (-6.6%), an increase in equity (8.3% ), deposits (17%) and credit to the economy (8.2%).

The State receivables increased by 26.9%, while deposits of the State increased by 4.6%.

On deposits, they increase by 8.8% and loans by 14.9% yoy. At June 30, 2011, according to the latest consolidated figures, the customer deposits from local banks amounted to 2 495.5 billion CFA francs, up 200.7 billion over the same period a year front.

The government says Afriland First Bank, SCB-Cameroon, Ecobank, SGBC, NFC-Bank and LAC have increased their market share compared to end June 2010 and July 31, 2011, Afriland First Bank took first place with 18.6% of outstanding deposits, followed by BICEC, 18.2%, the SGBC, 16.5%, SCB-Cameroon, Ecobank and 12.5%, 9.7%.

Even if we continue to deplore the lack of funds, statistics arrested June 30, 2011 show that outstanding loans granted by banks rose slightly. It amounts to a 725.4 billion, an increase of 22.3 billion compared to end June 2010. "The rate of nonperforming loans is 14.7% at end June 2011, to a level of 253 billion," the report said. The level of intermediation as measured by the ratio of loans granted on deposits is 69%.

By customer type, 65.8% of credits are awarded to private companies against 13.3% and 0.11% for public administrations and public bodies. The weight of credits granted to individuals stabilizes at 12.2%. In this report, manufacturing, wholesale trade and retail, the hotel industry, construction, transport and telecoms account for about 75% of the outstanding loans. Loans to agriculture, livestock and fishing weigh 7.6% while 1.3% is distributed to mining.

GCM


google translation

http://www.agenceecofin.com/banque/1102-3352-cameroun-bilan-bancaire-satisfaisant-mais

:)

The Mekin hydropower plant is taking shape

(Invest in Cameroon) - Hydro-Mekin, Chinese owner of the project, evaluates the achievement rate to over 35%.

Over a period of 36 months, and the work will permit to be erected at the foot of the rock "Nya Mekin" which gives its name to this town of nearly 6000 people located on the natural boundary between the boroughs and Meyomessala Bengbis, Department of Dja and Lobo, one of the most important achievements of these years.

An achievement that will, in the opinion of Hydro-Mekin, secure and increase energy supply in the South or the Central African subregion. As generated by 63 kva 110 kva will be brought to the job evaluation for transportation to the switchyard located Njom-Yekombo, 33 km away from the construction site of the hydroelectric Mekin.

According to preliminary studies, other activities of a commercial and industrial will grow around the plant with the objective, the maximum return. These, among others, fishing, ecotourism, food, the drinking water supply, irrigation for crop development against season.

During the working visit at the end of last week on the job site by Jules Marcellin Djanga, Governor of the South, it came to address the few issues which could affect the proper execution of the work, Like the relocation of residents of 17 villages on the influence of the project.

The Directorate General of Hydro-Mekin wanted to reassure people by reaffirming the will of the Cameroonian government to compensate them as soon as possible.

GCM
http://www.investiraucameroun.com/investir-au-cameroun/1502-3037-la-centrale-hydroelectrique-de-mekin-prend-corps

One of our energy projects which will boost national industrialisation...

Sundance faces fresh delay on $1.4 bln bid by Hanlong

MELBOURNE Feb 16 (Reuters) – Sundance Resources said it has pushed out by two months hopes for approval from Cameroon and Congo for its Mbalam iron ore project, further delaying a A$1.34 billion ($1.44 billion) bid for Sundance by China’s Hanlong Mining.

Sundance shares fell as much as 7 percent on news of the delay on the deal, which was first announced last July.

Sundance and Hanlong have agreed to extend the date for conditions on the takeover to be met by eight weeks to April 27, Sundance said on Thursday, after Cameroon set up a ministerial committee to oversee the approvals process for the mine.

“The close involvement of key senior government ministers at this stage in the process is expected to assist in a swift and efficient approvals process,” Sundance said in a statement.

Hanlong, which already owns 18.6 percent of Sundance, wants it for the $4.7 billion Mbalam project straddling the border between Cameroon and the Republic of Congo.

Mbalam is expected to produce 35 million tonnes a year of iron ore. This compares with a forecast 55 million tonnes this year from from Fortescue Metals Group, the world’s number four iron producer.

The Republics of Cameroon and Congo both need to issue mining permits for Mbalam.

For the deal to go ahead, Hanlong has agreed to line up credit from the China Development Bank within three weeks after Sundance secures mining permits from the two countries. The funding support had been due last November.

Sundance shares last traded at A$0.407, 29 percent below Hanlong’s offer of A$0.57 a share, reflecting uncertainty over the fate of the deal.

Reuters

^^

CFAO equipment is positioned on the major projects in Cameroon




Agency (ECOFIN) - With 3.5 billion investment and 55 employees for a start, CFAO equipment is proposed, in a business to business approach, to offer its customers a wide range of Cameroon for public works vehicles, handling, agricultural equipment, generators and lifts. "Unlike others, we put the resources before customers," said Nicolas Richard, Executive Director, before promising to tease a few competitors.

To do this, the company offers several solutions, including offerings through innovative leasing Loxea, a hallmark of short and long term rental and making available a range of equipment suitable to meet all needs of its industry.

Officials of the newest businesses operating in the construction industry believe that countries like Cameroon are favorable to investment, including major works and some other key projects are already underway: Kribi, Memve'ele , Lom Pangar, etc..

CFAO equipment that caters to players and present local and international investors in construction, agriculture, energy, logistics and transport, is now present in Yaounde and Douala.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.agenceecofin.com/investissement/2302-3548-cfao-equipement-se-positionne-sur-les-grands-chantiers-du-cameroun

The Minister of Health conducted the last Tuesday in the installation officials Hospital Research and Application in Surgery and Endoscopic Reproduction.The hospital offers medical and surgical high-level services in fields of gynecology and obstetrics. We understand why the institution responsible for conducting research in the field of endoscopy and human reproduction and deliver health care said peak will be headed by a top flight team judged: Pr Seraphin Fouda Magloire as President of Management Committee, and Jean Marie Kasia to the position of Director General. Created October 13, 2011, by presidential decree, the Hospital Research and Application in endoscopic surgery and reproduction (Chracerh) is a structure of the Chantal Biya Foundation. This teaching hospital is intended to improve maternal health, to women, and research in fertility. Beyond its objectives which aim to provide medical and surgical high-level, in the fields of gynecology and obstetrics, this hospital is also responsible for research and development of advanced surgical techniques.
The center to hold this hospital structure is already completed and equipped premises. Built on an area of ​​7300 m2, the complex is a building of two floors and three basements. A guided tour of the hospital complex can see, an administrative block, units of childbirth, surgery, hospitalization, medically assisted procreation, exploration and training, a neonatal unit, an amphitheater 300 places for learning and telemedicine, a blood bank, a bacteriology laboratory, a block transfer of embryos.

The CHRACERH is primarily a hospital should ensure that health care as traditional outpatient, gynecological emergencies, but also the board through family planning and disease-specific care in oncology, endoscopic surgery and Reproduction human through various applications such as specialized clinics for infertility treatment for infertile couples, medically assisted procreation (MAP), in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination Uterine, storage of gametes and embryos and other equivalent techniques in visual semiology and prenatal diagnosis.

In addition, research in surgical endoscopy, fax will be realized. To this is added the primary mission of training, the center aims to provide the theoretical and practical teaching in gynecology and human reproduction. Led by Professor Jean Marie Kasia, doctors: T. Nkoa, Mr. Toukam, J. D Kemfan Ngowa, the training component will lead to three university degrees CHRACERH organized with different credentials, it is the degree in Endoscopic Surgery, Human Reproduction and university degree in breast imaging.

^^

Business environment: the third session of the Cameroon Business Forum was held in Douala

The third edition of the Cameroon Business Forum (CBF) was held in Douala on Monday under the chairmanship of Cameroon Prime Minister Philemon Yang. This body was designed to bring together government officials and business community in order to improve the business climate and allow the country's economic development. She stood just days after the consultation launched by the Minister of Economy on the theme of accelerating growth.

For this third edition, about two hundred participants took part in the work under the theme "Investing in a simplified business environment." This is the first time that these meetings were held in Douala, economic capital and main business center of Cameroon and the Central African subregion.

The meeting in Douala was an opportunity to assess progress since the first edition of CBF held in 2009. Since then, two sessions were held during which 48 resolutions were taken. It will learn that 37 of 48 of these recommendations are already implemented or are being, or a rate of 73%. If, for many participants, much has been done, few complaints are still on the pace of implementation of reforms that, in the opinion of some, is still below expectations.

The CBF of Douala was also an opportunity to give new momentum that could lead to a more fruitful partnership between government and business circles. Indeed, the conclusion is that economic performance of Cameroon remain mixed when taking into consideration the real potential of the country. The ambition clearly displayed by both the government and the private sector is to win a point each year of growth from 2013 to take the path of emergence.

The Head of State Paul Biya has placed the current seven-under the banner of "Major Achievements", the problem arises of how to improve Cameroon's place in the ranking of Doing Business and Cameroon to the destination more attractive to investors . To this end, the Prime Minister reiterated his government's commitment to implement "a program of reform and voluntary resolved" to improve the business climate.

Forum Douala has an opportunity for members of the government to make a presentation on measures already taken or envisaged to improve the business climate. Thus the Minister of Justice, Attorney General, Laurent Esso, reported on the facilitation of settlement of commercial disputes in the context of OHADA. For its part, the Finance Minister, Alamine Ousmane Mey, dwelt on paperless customs and tax procedures.

For its part, the private sector expect the government said that "it emits strong signals" to promote the economic sectors with growth potential such as agriculture, information technology and communication, tourism, wood, energy, textiles and mining.

Other expectations among the most urgent concern about starting small business bank and the agricultural bank, facilitating the access of SMEs to public procurement, the adoption of a law enforcement on the timeliness of payment , etc..

André Fouda

Cameroon Report

Joule Africa to develop Kpep project with Cameroon govt


Emerging market energy developer Joule Africa and the government of Cameroon have formed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 450MW hydro electric project.

The Kpep Hydroelectric facility will increase the country’s current installed power base by at least 40 per cent, as well as creating jobs and economic benefits.

Joule Africa will work alongside local partner the consultancy Bethel Industrievertretung, as well as leading European engineering firm Lahmeyer International.

The plant will be located on the Katsina-Ala river in the north-west of the country.

Basile Atangana Kouna, Minister of Water Resources & Energy, said, ‘Independent Power Projects, such as this one with Joule Africa, are at the core of the government of Cameroon’s strategy for increasing access to water and energy.

‘The involvement of the private sector is key to building necessary infrastructure and to realising the development goals that the country has set. Choosing to work with Joule Africa on this project further demonstrates the commitment of the government to mobilising international investment for the development of Cameroon.’

Mark Green, managing partner of Joule Africa, added, ‘We are delighted that the government of Cameroon has identified Joule Africa as the appropriate partner for the development of the Kpep Hydroelectric Project. This is the second project under development for us in sub-Saharan Africa.

‘We are committed to working closely with both the technical and financial community in Cameroon to make this a genuine partnership between Joule Africa and the people and government of Cameroon. We are privileged to be a part of this project and of the growth and development that it signifies for the country.’

Copyright © 2012 NewNet

Cameroon inks MOU in $1 bln 450 MW hydro project
Fri Mar 9, 2012


YAOUNDE - Cameroon and U.S. emerging markets energy developer Joule Africa signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a $1 billion 450 MW Kpep Hydroelectric Project in the Central African nation, the parties said on Friday.

The project will boost the country's current installed power generation capacity by at least 40 percent, a statement from Cameroon's water resources and energy minister said.

Cameroon's government has embarked on plans to increase the country's power generation capacity, which in the past, along with other infrastructure shortages, have slowed the growth potential of Central Africa region's biggest economy.

The government has said it plans to increase power capacity from 1,037 MW to 3,000 MW by 2020, which is seen as key for the country to attain an emerging economy status by 2035.

"Independent power projects such as this one with Joule Africa, are at the core of the government of Cameroon's strategy for increasing access to water and energy," Water Resources and Energy Minister Basile Atangana Kouna said in a statement.

"The involvement of the private sector is key to building necessary infrastructure and to realising the development goals the country has set," Kouna said.

Joule Africa's managing director Mark Green said the firm was happy to partner with the government of to develop the project, its second in sub-Saharan Africa.

Joule Africa, a member of the California-based Joule Investments Group, signed a similar deal with Sierra Leone in May last year to expand the West African country's Bumbuna hydro electric project, which will add about 350 Megawatts of generation capacity to the country.

Green said the project in Cameroon will take approximately six to seven years to come on stream and will cost about $1 billion, subject to the feasibility study.

"We are committed to working closely with both the technical and financial community in Cameroon to make this a genuine partnership between Joule Africa and the people and government of Cameroon," Green said.

The Kpep hydro project is located on the Katsina-Ala River in North-West region of Cameroon close to the border with Nigeria.


source: Reuters...

Thanks Hadrami for your contribution on this thread !!! :okay:

Cameroon was always one of those African nations I just glanced over and ignored, but wow this thread is an eye opener.

Thanks Hadrami for your contribution on this thread !!! :okay:
no problem :cheers:

Cameroon was always one of those African nations I just glanced over and ignored, but wow this thread is an eye opener.

Keep visiting this thread you'll know much about Cameroon improvements in various sectors.

Oil research launched in Makary (Extreme-North region)

After the block Zina, the deepening of the research was started last Monday. The small town of Woulky in the borough of Makary, Logone-Chari and lives a kind of transfiguration. The inhabitants of this small town are stunned by the arrival of heavy equipment and landing of large machines on their territory. Is that the Chinese oil company, Yan Chang, a partner of the National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH) has installed one of its bases here.

After the exploration work in Block Zina, she has launched seismic testing in the block Makary. This is broken for this company in oil exploration to assess the amount and type of oil whose indices were discovered a few months ago in this area. The launching ceremony of the seismic survey was chaired by the regional governor of the Far North, Joseph Beti Assomo.

According to the Director of Operations for the NHC, the work of the first phase will cost 5 billion of CFA. This work that Simon describes as conclusive Tamfu allowed several area youth to find employment. For the second phase which will last four to five months ago another 8 billion francs to spend, and some 250 local youth will be solicited. It was after this step we will know more about the commercial nature of the oil that is in the basement. The work is done by large machines that will go to over 5000 meters in the basement to detect the black gold. Local people began to dream has been invited to take his troubles patiently. The process leading to the production of oil is long, complex and complicated, enter the representative of the Administrator-General of the NHC.

We remember that April 2, 2009, the Cameroon government through the SNH, has signed a production sharing contract for onshore oil exploration with China's Yan Chang Logone Development Holding Company Ltd.. The agreement gives discharge to the Chinese company to make the operations of seismic interpretation and drilling of oil wells in an area of ​​8506Km ² in blocks of Zina and Makary. In case of successful tests, the findings of the block-Zina Makary in the Far North will help boost the national economy, especially that Cameroon has set a goal of becoming an emerging on the horizon in 2035.

Translation from french with google translate

http://www.camnews24.com/fr/societe/cameroun/22539-des-recherches-petrolieres-lancees-a-makary-

111 tractors from the assembly plant of Ebolowa ready

The machines were sold back to Ebolowa MINADER Tuesday by Minister of Economy. Behind his back, dozens of farm machinery, including a hundred tractors, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Planning (Minepat), Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, presented to his counterpart of the Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), Essimi Menye.Which invited forthwith, student farmers to ride two machines, thereby increasing the already overflowing joy of the potential beneficiaries of the shed. The rest, CT has learned from official sources, will be distributed during the launch of the growing season in two weeksReceiving tractors, MINADER has called for more, turning her gaze to the Minepat. "We need agricultural roads to replace farm tracks," pleaded Essimi Menye. In fact, both members of the government believed the ambition to achieve successfully the transition to a second generation of agriculture. "This agriculture will devote our food self-sufficiency and provide jobs for youth," said Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi. This is to make a "qualitative leap" through mechanization and improved seeds in particular, emphasize again the Minister Nganou Djoumessi.

In addition, the ceremony held at Ngalane, a suburb of Ebolowa, also magnified cooperation between India and Cameroon. A bilateral relationship with the "quality and excellence" were highlighted by the Minepat. Following him, Essimi Menye renewed the thanks of the Cameroon government to Indian partners as the Honorary Consul General of India, came to Douala, was responsible for transmitting.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.camnews24.com/fr/societe/cameroun/22537-111-tracteurs-prets-a-ebolowa-

Cameroon: Electricity for all by 2020?

By Stefane Ballong, Translated by Olivier Milland

Despite a strong potential for producing hydroelectric power Cameroon has never really managed to reduce its energy deficit. Now, the new minister in charge of the energy sector is determined to find a solution.


BASILE ATANGANA KOUNA, CAMEROONIAN MINISTER OF ENERGY AND WATER

A gigantic hydroelectric dam with a capacity of between 400 and 500 megawatts (MW) in Kpep will be built in Menchum in north-east Cameroon. Negotiations between Basile Atangana Kouna, Cameroonian minister of Energy and Water and British company Joule Africa as well as its German partner Lahmeyer, for the project was initiated in London at the end of February. The consortium is getting ready to launch an assessment of the project's estimated costs.

What will follow is "a BuildOperateTransfer (BOT) contract, and construction is set to start between the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014. The dam will be operational two years later," the minister confirmed.

The two companies, who are already present on the continent, signed a $750m agreement in 2011 in Sierra Leone, aiming at increasing the capacity of the Bumbuna hydroelectric dam, from 50 MW to 400 MW by the end of this year. The Kpep hydroelectric power station would complement the projects that are already under way, some of which are in need of financing, which would eventually allow Cameroon to export electricity, according to Basile Atanga Kouna.

In total, the government intends to spend CFA 5.800bn (a little over $11.5million) between 2010-2020, to develop infrastructure for electricity production and distribution. But before then, Cameroon has to satisfy its own needs.

Although load shedding, which is severely affecting the industrial sector's development and slowing down the GDP growth (3.1 percent in 2011), has been reduced in the last two years, the country still has an electricity deficit. Half of Cameroonians do not have access to electricity.

Progress under way

With an electricity production capacity of 12.000 MW, placing it in third position behind DRC and Ethiopia, Cameroon doesn't produce more than 7.500 MW from its hydraulic energy sources. Total electricity production is at a little more than 1.000 MW. Henceforth, the objective set by the government is to triple that capacity by 2020.

And by reducing its energy deficit, Cameroon expects to see an increase in its GDP growth by 2 percent. Just like other countries of the region (Gabon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, etc) that are also striving to boost their energy production, Cameroon has increased the number of projects. At the end of December, 2011, they managed to finalise the financing of a thermal gas plant in Kribi, which should be completed by the first trimester of 2013.

The thermal gas plant will have a capacity of 216MW that could be extended to 330 MW, and will be built and operated by Kribi Power Development Corporation (KPDC), a subsidiary of AES-Sonel - Cameroon's largest electricity supplier - at CFA 190bn ($379m). The project is partly financed by the state with CFA60bn ($119m), a consortium of local banks providing CFA40bn ($79.8m) and international investors with CFA 90bn ($179.5m). The gas needed for the construction site will be supplied by the end of 2012, by the Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH).

Another project that will soon see a great progress is the construction of the Lom-Pangar dam on the Sanaga River, in the east of the country. Construction is handled by the Electricity Development Corporation (EDC), and should start before the end of the year. The plan is to build a water reserve of 6bn m3 to supply the Edéa and Song Loulou plants, in order to improve their production capacity from 450 MWh at present to 729 MWh by 2015.

"We believe that the financing (of more than CFA 200bn -$398m) will be settled by the end of June, 2012" according to the Ministry of Energy and Water.

The latest investors' assessment, including entities such as the AFD, the European Investment Bank, World Bank, BAD or BDEAC, was done in January, with a positive outcome. In the weeks ahead, the heads of these institutions need to decide on the level of their participation. "We remain optimistic, because the government has responded satisfactorily by providing partners with a working plan for hydro-electric power, and has taken concrete steps with respect to indebtedness and access to water," Kouna explained.

Kouna is also the head of Camwater, a public agency that specializes in the development of infrastructure for water production and distribution in Cameroon.

Boost production

In addition to Lom-Pangar, works on at least two other infrastructural projects are expected to begin between 2013 and 2014. One of them is the hydro-electric power plant in Nachtigal, which has a capacity of 250MW ($780m), and could spur the yearly production of Aluminum du Cameroun. Another one is the $477m Memve'ele plant on the Ntem River expected to add 200MW to the total production.

In all, Cameroon seems to be well on track to catch up on its delays in energy production. And if the government respects the deals made with investors, there should be no problem finalising the projects.

Good news a bondima !! :okay:

Infrastructure: China Eximbank provides financing for the Yaounde-Douala highway

Thursday, March 8, 2012, China Eximbank has agreed to finance the first phase construction of the Yaounde-Douala highway. The President should sign, in the coming days hopefully be a decree empowering the Minister of Economy to sign a loan agreement with China. "The ball is now in the camp of the Cameroon government, at least the Chinese have already signed. It is up to us to hurry up if you do not want to lose. Time, "said an official from Minepat. Sources say that in April 2012 could be the decisive month.

It's in October 31, 2011 the Minister of Economy of the time, Mr. Louis Paul Motaze, wrote to China Eximbank for obtaining a loan for the construction of the first phase of the highway between Yaounde and Douala. This first part is a linear 80 km, between Yaounde and Bot-Makak. The credit is requested by the Minepat of $ 482.8 million, or $ 241.4 billion CFA francs, with an interest rate of 2% over 20 years, with 7-year grace period. "From that date, China Eximbank has expressed interest in noticeable quantity and quality of documents they asked us," says a close case.

Since then, the Chinese company was established in Cameroon awaiting funding. She continued to study such techniques outlined in the contract. Some points of convergence are such definitively established on the final route of the highway. The choice of the loop highway (Yaounde-Douala-Yaounde Bafoussam) was abandoned in favor of a star schema: Yaounde-Yingui in Nkam then split the motorway (Yingui-Douala and Bafoussam Yingui). Advantage of the linear reduction of the highway and lower construction cost.

Its like African countries have suddenly all awoken from a sleep and are in a rush to develop now. God knows why they neglected infrastructure for so long.

Good stuff.

Mobile Banking in Cameroon Increases Access to Financial Services


Today, 1.7 billion people with mobile phones do not have bank accounts. Taking this into account, the growing phenomenon of mobile banking is widening access to financial services in Cameroon and throughout Africa. Financial experts suggest that just a mobile phone and a SIM card have the potential to erode poverty.

BAMENDA, CAMEROON – Mdubila Pascaline, 29, is a journalist in Bamenda, a city in northwestern Cameroon. She says she sends some of the money she earns to her mother – simply by using her cell phone.

Her mother lives in Mbiame, a remote village that is more than five hours away from Bamenda by car. She does not have a bank account, but she can collect money from her daughter with just her phone.

“It’s very efficient and cost-effective,” Pascaline says.

Pascaline subscribed to the service at the MTN Cameroon mobile service provider in her town and received a code to text to her mother. She bought airtime worth 10,000 francs and transferred the money to her mother via cell phone. Using the code, her mother collected the money at the MTN Cameroon service center in her village.

For this transaction, Pascaline paid a fee of 100 francs (20 cents), which she says is cheaper than transferring the money using a bank account.

“With local banks, the transaction costs 500 francs [$1],” Pascaline says.

Mobile phone companies and banks are teaming up to provide mobile financial services to the citizens of Cameroon, enabling them to use their cell phones to transfer money and pay bills. In addition to increasing convenience, financial experts say that the growing phenomenon of mobile banking has the potential to erode poverty by connecting citizens without bank accounts to financial opportunities. The development of these services faces challenges though, such as poor network connections, power outages and low awareness.

This year, about 1.7 billion people will have mobile phones but not bank accounts, according to predictions by the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, an independent policy and research center housed at the World Bank that is dedicated to advancing financial access for the world’s poor.

Petipe Paterne Aimé, a microfinance expert who lectures on the topic at the Catholic University of Cameroon, says Cameroonian banks, like Banque Internationale du Cameroun pour l’Epargne et le Credit, are forming partnerships with mobile phone operators to provide mobile financial services. Paterne applauds this step as mobile phone operators have a wider reach than banks because more people have cell phones than bank accounts.

Local phone operators have launched various mobile money services thanks to this partnership. MTN Cameroon has introduced MTN MobileMoney, an electronic wallet that enables users to send and receive money via their cell phones. Another mobile phone service provider, Orange, has launched Orange Money, its mobile money service that allows customers to pay bills through their cell phones.

One such customer is Ndi Apollinaire. Working from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily as a taxi driver in Bamenda, he says he does not always have the time to go and wait in line at Applied Energy Services-Société Nationale d’Electricité du Cameroun, the electricity service provider, to pay his electricity bill. He says he is excited about the new option to pay his electricity bills through Orange, his mobile phone service provider.

“I have paid my bills through Orange once,” he says.

He says there are still a few kinks to resolve, but he is confident in the future of this system.

“The second time I tried it, the transaction did not go through, and I lost some of my credit money,” he says. “The service is new and am sure Orange and AES will work on it so that it is more efficient.”

In addition to being efficient, finance experts here say that mobile banking could be a key solution to help people out of poverty.
Paterne says the new mobile banking services allow Cameroonians to safely and cheaply send money to family and friends throughout the country or pay bills using a mobile wallet. Further development of mobile banking services could enable more people to access savings acounts, receive and repay loans and pay insurance premiums.

The new access to these financial services could develop the economic activities of the poor, he says. Mobile financial services mean that poor people who have cell phones but no bank accounts could have more access to microloans, insurance and tailored investment opportunities – services they are typically denied.

Andin Ban works for a major sales partner of Orange and Orange Money. She says that there are few requirements to benefit from Orange Money. Clients must be 15 or older, be identified owners of cell phone numbers and have photocopies of their national identity cards. The subscription to Orange Money is free.

Mobile banking is changing the speed of personal and business banking in Cameroon and has the potential to grow. But in spite of these innovations, challenges to its development still exist, as Apollinaire’s experience shows.

Paterne says that to make the most of opportunities offered by mobile banking, mobile phone operators need to regularize their services. There are days when clients are unable to make calls or receive text messages because of poor network connections.

Blackouts, which can last the whole day, are also common in Cameroon. During a blackout, people can’t charge their phones to access the financial services.

Companies may also need to find more effective ways to explain the terms and conditions of the new services, as some mobile users are still hesitant about using their phones for banking.

Manka’a Sharon, 30, is a warehouse manager at a social marketing company. She says she uses her cell phone exclusively for phone calls and text messages, despite weekly notifications from her mobile phone company announcing new services and products.

“I usually don’t want to read through the details of the notifications,” she says. “I only use my phone to make or receive calls and to send text messages.”

Sharon says she has heard about offers to use her phone to pay electricity bills or transfer money, but she is wary of them.

“Most of the offers by the phone companies sound like ‘jambo,’” she says, using a Cameroonian Pidgin English word for gambling.

by Comfort Mussa / Global Press Institute

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/03/15/mobile-banking-in-cameroon-increases-access-to-financial-services/

The cassava research bear fruit in Cameroon


Agency (ECOFIN) - The cassava research bear fruit in Cameroon. According to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), yields increased by 10 tonnes (t) per hectare to 25-30 t thanks to the use of improved varieties, more resistant to many diseases and insects affecting the plant, and to its investment in particular by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), whose president, Francis Kanayo was in Cameroon this week.

National production of cassava is now estimated at 3 million tonnes. In addition to increased yields, improved crop varieties can increase the diversity of cassava utilization by improving the quality of processed products from gari flour, and improve the taste, use, ease of peeling, color, etc..

Making bread from cassava could be launched as already exists in Nigeria and Tanzania.

To address post-harvest losses, shredders were distributed in 2010 in 25 pilot villages, facilitating the transformation of the tuber and thus reducing losses.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.agenceecofin.com/recherche/1603-3915-les-recherches-sur-le-manioc-portent-leurs-fruits-au-cameroun

Cameroon crude output on track for 100,000 bpd in 2012

YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Cameroon is on target to double crude production to 100,000 barrels per day in 2012 after independent oil producer Perenco raised output from the Baf 3 oilfield to 50,000 bpd, an official at Cameroon’s state-run hydrocarbons corporation said.Oil production in the central African state, which peaked at 185,000 bpd in the mid-1980s, averaged around 65,000 bpd in 2011 due to maturing oil fields.

“The progress at Baf 3 is a clear indication that we are very likely going to meet our target of increasing total national production to at least 100,000 bpd in 2012,” said the official of the National Hydrocarbons Corporations (SNH), who asked not to be named.

Denis Clerc-Renaud, director-general of Perenco Cameroon, which became the leading oil operator in the country after taking over Total E&P operations in April 2011, said the firm will be focusing on reopening wells and improving production techniques.

Parenco’s other assets in Cameroon include the Dissoni oil field in the Rio Del Rey basin close to the Nigerian boarder, due to come onstream in the second half of 2012, and the Moudi and Ebome Marine concessions in the Douala/Kribi-Campo basin.

“One of our target is to start the Dissoni field. Heavier works will begin soon and production start date should be as we have said, that is around August 2012,” Clerc-Renaud said.
The development of the two Dissoni onshore oilfields could raise Perenco country output by at least 25,000 bpd, bringing the firm’s total production to 75,000-80,000 bpd.

yahoonews

Optical fiber: interconnection Cameroon-Chad

Chadian President Idriss Deby launched last Friday, March 16, 2012, in N'Djamena in Chad, the national fiber optic network along 700 km. A network made ​​possible via the submarine cable SAT3, located on the Atlantic coast of Africa, which reached Chad from Chad-Cameroon pipeline on which it is installed.

Cameroon, which has installed the submarine cable along the pipeline, this infrastructure is available to the Chad in exchange for tens of billions of CFA, we learn. Indeed, the telephone operator Camtel Cameroon who manages the infrastructure of fiber optics in Cameroon, signed December 30, 2011, with the Society of transmission infrastructure of electronic communications by fiber optic cable Chad (Sitcom) , a commercial agreement and technical interconnection networks of terrestrial fiber optic transmission. It was after the visit of President of Chad to Cameroon. After his stay in Cameroon, Idriss Deby signed in the Nsimalen airport, attended by the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, an agreement for interconnection of optical fiber between Chad and Cameroon.

To demonstrate the power of broadband, a videoconference was held last Friday between Chad and Cameroon. Ambassador of Chad to Cameroon and conversed directly with Chadian President Idriss Deby, from the videoconferencing room of MINPOSTEL in Yaounde. Idriss Deby thanked the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, who has allowed the realization of this project.
If the exact amounts to be collected by Cameroon are not known, at the side of Camtel it says that the manna is quite important. Benjamin Assouzo'o, the communications manager of Camtel explains: "Camtel is the technical partner of Sitcom. Currently, Chad has only 700 km of optical fiber, as the country is vast and needs thousands of kilometers of fiber. Similarly the Chinese install fiber optics in Cameroon against large sums of money, it's Camtel which will install the fiber optic in Chad. This will generate billions of CFA francs in Cameroon. "The Chadian Minister of Posts and New Technologies of Information and Communication, Jean Bawoyeu Alingué, has also announced Friday that "the mesh of the national territory with the optical fiber is expected to span over 3,000 km and its implementation will require the mobilization of other important resources. "

Moreover, Sitcom pay interconnection capacity to Camtel in terms of billions of CFA francs, said Benjamin Assouzo'o. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, it is stated that to generate more funds, "Cameroon strengthens its leading position in the sub region economically and as a digital hub."

Meanwhile the fallout in the telecommunications, the Cameroonian Treasury has already cashed 85.5 billion CFA francs in eight years for what is the right of transit of oil via the Chad-Cameroon pipeline.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroon-info.net/stories/0,32592,@,fibre-optique-tchad-des-retombees-en-milliards-de-francs-cfa.html

Bostwana Diamonds mining company believes in the potential of Cameroon in the field of diamond

Bostwana Diamonds mining company `s based in Ireland, believes in the potential of Cameroon in the field of diamond


The Diamonds Botswana exploration company, based in Ireland, is optimistic about the profitability of old alluvial-type deposits, also called paleoplacers over an area 8000 km ² in Cameroon.

While the geology of Cameroon are still unknown, John Telling, the founder of the company told Mining Weekly that a comprehensive study of the area was made to confirm the presence of diamonds, saying he was also likely that the local artisans have already discovered.

"Few people, if any exist, in the diamond industry believe that Cameroon has the geological potential to produce. However, as our work in Zimbabwe has led to important discoveries in deposits in the area paleoplacers Marange, we better understand what type of rock and realize its potential, "he said.

So far, gold and uranium were the only minerals mined for commercial purposes of these deposits, but Teeling think the discovery of diamonds by the Korean company C & K Mining in search of gold at Mobilong, to the east of Cameroon, has demonstrated the possibility of diamond mining.

Based on this discovery, C & K Mining has obtained an operating license and is trying to develop a mine that should be released this year.

"Once the deposits have been discovered, we have applied for a license in the area adjacent to Mobilong in 2011, the area was surveyed, identified the rocks, and an exploration license over an area of 400 sq km has been obtained, "said Teeling.

A sampling program of 300 tons is underway to follow with a broader program to be held in the second half of the year.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.camerounlink.net/?SessionID=D8CL0TWC8QDYE2YAVPY9FPHMDK1AGD&cl1=&cl2=&bnid=2&nid=65798

Cameroon: Fish Farming – Brazil, Cameroon Sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Brazil will provide technical assistance to MINEPIA to improve fish production.

The Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr. Taiga on March 20, 2012 in Yaounde signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU with the Ambassador of Brazil to Cameroon, Orlando Oliveira on the development of fishing in the country.

Entitled “Technical training within the framework of developing sustainable fish farming in Cameroon,” the agreement is expected to go a long way in bridging the shortfall between fish demand and supply that now stands at 1,300 metric tonnes a year. The agreement is the follow up to the agricultural and food security MOU signed between the two countries on August 4, 2010 in the presence of their heads of state.

According to Minister Taiga, the cooperation is expected to boost the fishery sector in Cameroon. Some of the expected outcomes are the training of 20 Cameroonian technicians in the production, processing and marketing of tilapia and cat fish; and the construction and rehabilitation of a modern production unit for fish feed.

Ambassador Oliveira announced that the 20 technicians will travel to Brazil this week for the training. “From there, we can set up industries in fisheries,” he said, expressing the wish to extend Brazil’s expertise to other sectors. Also present at the event was the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Essimi Menye.

Cameroon Tribune


http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/03/20/cameroon-fish-farming-brazil-cameroon-sign-a-memorandum-of-understanding/

The hemodialysis center of Maroua is operational

It was inaugurated on Tuesday by the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda.

The Far North region now has its hemodialysis center. The structure, which opened yesterday in an official ceremony in which took part the administrative authorities, traditional and religious as well as local people, is housed within the walls of the Regional Hospital of Maroua. The Center has a powerful technical plate of a capacity of 48 patients at normal period and a maximum of 72 patients. Valued at 660 million francs invested in the construction, equipment, staff training and the supply of essential drugs for six months, the project had required extensive work spread over 18 months. Works effectively started June 27, 2010.

Sixth after those of Garoua, Bamenda, Buea, Douala and Yaounde, Maroua hemodialysis center welcomed its first patients with renal failure at the beginning of March. It involved a promise of Head of State Paul Biya, who has made ​​a resolution in 2007 to provide all ten regions of a hemodialysis center or medical imaging.

Now, patients from the Far North will no longer have to travel long distances to get dialysis in Garoua, the nearest center.

Cameroon Tribune

translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/03/21/le-centre-dhemodialyse-de-maroua-est-operationnel/


:cheers2:

Branding Cameroon in India

MINEPAT has explained the country’s business opportunities to Indian investors.

As some African countries mounted the podium on Monday March 19, 2012 at about 6 pm New Delhi time, 1 pm in Yaounde, to market their different countries, one message came out clear, that is, the desire by both India and Africa to forge a common economic destiny. Cameroon not only had the chance to be presented to the Indian companies by the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, but also left the conference with a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed between Christophe Eken, President of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts (CCIMA) and Syamal Gupta, Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Conscious of the low penetration of the Indian entrepreneurs into Cameroon, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi assured the Indian investors that President Paul Biya has enlarged the circle of cooperation links for the country. With the government Growth and Employment Strategy Paper which outlines a yearning demand for development infrastructure like roads, energy, railways and others as well as need for the improvement of production tools, the strategic management of the State with focus on economic and financial governance and international cooperation to support internal initiatives as far as finance and know-how are concerned, the Minister said Cameroon needs partners such as India to succeed. Other members of the panel like the Togolese Minister of Trade and Private Sector Promotion, Kwesi A Seleagodji Lolonyo could not hide their feelings when they realised that the Cameroon Minister and the French Lawyer, Stephane Brabant sold out their ideas in English living him and the Congo Brazzaville Minister of Trade and Supply, Claudine Munari to speak in French.

Earlier on, the Indian CII presented a picture of their trading links within the African continent. The World Development indicators updated in December 2011 showed that CEMAC in 2009 was the least trading partner with 1.2 per cent Indian merchandise exports compared to the ECCAS countries that had 9.9 per cent, the SADC countries with 11.0 per cent and the UEMOA countries had 13.2 per cent within the same period. In terms of Trade balance, India improved from a trade balance deficit of minus 12,181.9 million USD in 2009-10 fiscal years to minus 9,860.7 million USD in the 2011-12 fiscal years. Meaning that India keeps increasing the number of goods they import from Africa. No matter what the figures may indicate, the most important issue now will be for Africa and the Indian Sub continent to make the best out of the new partnerships being created.

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67470:branding-cameroon-in-india&catid=1:politique&Itemid=3

Kribi Gas Plant: Construction Work Intensifies on Treatment Centre

Contracting firm, Perenco, is already done with 70 per cent of civil engineering work.

Construction work on the Gas Treatment Centre of the Kribi Gas Fired Plant is progressing at Bipaga at the entrance to Kribi town. Engineers of the contracting firm, Perenco, are burning night candles to meet the deadline billed for December 2012. An access road between the Edea-Kribi highway and the Bipaga 1 site where the gas processing centre is located is already bulldozed.

During a stopover by members of the Pipeline Monitoring and Steering Committee to the site on Saturday March 17, serious work was going on and officials said all was being done to meet the deadline. According to Vincent Reaud, a representative of Perenco at the site, over 70 per cent of civil engineering work was already done. To Jean-Baptiste Abessougue, Chief of Section of Education, Information and Communication at the Permanent Secretariat of Pipeline Monitoring and Steering Committee, the Centre will comprise a mini refinery to process the gas so as to remove undesirable substances. “There are two components being handled by the National Hydrocarbons Corporation, NHC. There is the access road of about 5 to 5.5 km and the gas pipeline which is going to be laid from the treatment centre to the main road, move again to the direction of Kribi after the toll gate, cross the road and move to the power plant. The company in charge of the road is already setting up itself and the contract for the pipeline has been awarded and work will begin soon,” he said.

The 15-km long offshore gas pipeline, which government through the National Hydrocarbons Corporation, (NHC) is building to operate has as goal to supply natural gas to the Kribi Thermal Power Station. Sources say gas from this plant will be shipped by pipeline to the Mpolongwe 2 site where the thermal station is to be constructed.

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67445:kribi-gas-plant-construction-work-intensifies-on-treatment-centre&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

Drinking water for 9 localities

8 billion loan from the Belgian Government to improve the supply of people.

The rehabilitation project, strengthening and extension of the drinking water systems it's now in its fourth phase in Cameroon . It is the turn of the localities of Kribi, Mbouda Foumbot, Mfou, Belabo, Bamenda, Messondo, Maroua, and Kaélé to reap the benefits of the project. To provide drinking water to these nine communities, the Belgian Government through the Dexia Bank has granted Cameroon a loan of 7.7 billion francs The signing of the financing agreement was held last Friday in Yaounde between the Minister of Economy, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi and export manager and Finance Dexia Bank, Emmanuel Falisse.
This new loan brings to 23 the number of centers of drinking water will be built or rehabilitated at a cost of 23 billion francs This is a total of 52 who will be at the end of the project started since 2009. At that date, the Dexia Bank provided a loan of about 11 billion francs to support the investment program of the Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation (Camwater). "If next year, we sign yet another agreement, we will be at thirty centers. In two or three years, we have constructed the 52 centers, "said CEO Camwater, Basile Atangana Kouna, also Minister of Water and Energy who took part in the ceremony last Friday.
The Cameroonian government wishes to increase the access rate to drinking water from 29% to 75% by 2020. To achieve this, it is anticipated the construction of 700 000 connections in urban areas, construction of 40 000 water points in rural areas, 1.2 million latrines and rehabilitation of 6,000 water points in rural areas as priority actions.

Cooperation between Cameroon and Belgium has lasted 42 years. Belgian achievements in Cameroon are Yaounde General Hospital (16 billion francs), the University Centre of Dschang (3.5 billion F), the Centre zootechnical Maroua (F 4.3 billion), construction of the new bridge over the Mungo, provision for installing a surveillance system for identifying and coastal vessels entering the port of Douala and the drinking water supply of the town of Soa.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67443:de-leau-potable-pour-9-localites&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

World Bank Approves Cameroon’s Lom Pangar Dam Project to Boost Economic Growth and Provide More Reliable Power for Up to Five Million People


WASHINGTON, March 27, 2012 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved US$132 million in zero-interest financing for Cameroon’s Lom Pangar Hydropower Project (LPHP), to support the country’s economic development and significantly improve the supply of electricity to homes and businesses across Cameroon.



Together with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC), the European Investment Bank (EIB) the French Agency for Development (AFD), and the Government of Cameroon, the project will finance the Lom Pangar dam to store water during the rainy season and later release it during dry periods, to increase all-season hydropower generation capacity on the Sanaga River by approximately 40 percent.



The immediate benefit for Cameroonians will be a 120 MW increase in electricity generation at two existing hydropower plants which will improve the reliability of power supply for up to five million Cameroonians and help to lower the cost of power. Electricity supply is often erratic, with frequent power cuts especially during the dry season.



The project also includes financing for a 30 MW power plant which will replace expensive thermal generation and provide reliable access to electricity in eastern Cameroon, including 2,400 newly connected households. In the medium term, the LPHP will also help develop additional hydropower plants in the Sanaga River Basin.



“Africa’s energy deficit suppresses its growth and deepens poverty, and this is certainly the case in Cameroon where many communities are starved for energy, and yet has the third largest untapped hydropower potential in Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Obiageli K. Ezekwesili, World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region. “Lom Pangar marks an important step in turning the lights on in more homes and businesses in Cameroon, lowering power costs, attracting new investors, and improving the all-season reliability of the country’s electricity. This project is a persuasive example of how hydropower provides clean, large-scale, affordable, and renewable energy and can play a major role in solving Africa’s energy crisis”



In considering the proposed financing, the Board of Executive Directors noted the urgent need for Cameroon to spur economic growth, improve the reach of its power supply, especially in rural areas where fewer than 14 percent of people have access to electricity, and further develop the country’s significantly large, untapped hydropower potential. Studies show that Cameroon could generate 12,000 MW of hydropower, with the Sanaga River Basin alone providing nearly 50 percent of the untapped potential.



Total electricity generation capacity is now only 933 MW, 77 percent of which comes from hydropower, and the rest from relatively expensive and polluting thermal generation.



“The Lom Pangar project helps the immediate needs of the people of Cameroon and their national economy,” said Gregor Binkert, World Bank Country Director for Cameroon. “It is a symbol of Cameroon’s determination to become an economic power since sustainable access to energy is a basic ingredient for private sector-led economic growth and better living standards for people. The project will attract private investment in hydropower by industrial users which will sell part of the electricity they produce to boost the public grid, and help to improve power services for all Cameroonians.”



Estimated costs for the LPHP are US$ 494 million, with $132 million being financed by the International Development Association (IDA), the Bank’s fund for the poorest countries; and $163 million coming from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the French Agency for Development (AFD) and $199 million from the Government of Cameroon.



Approval of the Lom Pangar dam project is anchored in “Africa’s Future and the World Bank’s Support to It,” the World Bank’s regional strategy for the African continent which notes that closing the gap between infrastructure needs and investments is vital for job-led growth and facilitating private sector development. Reducing poverty and spurring growth through partnerships, knowledge, and financing are key priorities of the strategy.



“Designed to the best international standards, the LPHP is a unique opportunity to unlock Cameroon’s hydropower potential while safeguarding the environment and mitigating the dam’s impact on local communities, ,” said Meike van Ginneken, World Bank Sector Leader for Sustainable Development and project team leader based in Yaounde. “We look forward to the project’s effective implementation so that its power can benefit all Cameroonians and help to create better development prospects for communities.”



In 2011, World Bank helped to provide electricity to an additional 1.4 million people in African countries; construct and repair some 6,640 kilometers of roads; and improved water supplies for more than 8 million people.

http://web.worldbank.org/lompangar


:cheers2:

Coffee-Cocoa : A new life

To forget the dark years, the Cameroonian authorities are exploring several avenues: increased production of cocoa, a position in the premium coffee and focus on local processing. Cameroon is seeking a new life for his coffee-cocoa sector. Strategic for the country's economy, the activity represents 30% of non-oil exports and supports more than 2 million farmers.
Managed to rack and ruin for decades, the industry is slowly returning to the colors after the authorities' decision to invest $ 11 million (8.4 million) between 2010 and 2015. Already, sales rose to 280 billion CFA francs (427 million) in 2011, against 249 billion in 2010.

Major Projects

How to revive the sector? Continuously increasing the production of cocoa beans, while positioning itself on the high-end coffee to take market share. In the maneuver, Ndoping Michael, an English speaker 60 years, CEO of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (NCCB) since 2006. Target set by the government: do better than the 230,000 tons of cocoa production in 2011, reaching 300 000 t in 2015. A strategy based on the Development Fund of cocoa and coffee (Fodecc), funded by a levy on exports of these products. This fund has enabled the establishment of six major projects, including on the quality of seeds for the production of improved plant material, more resistant and high yielding, as well as for cocoa for coffee. "With the Fodecc, we established a policy to subsidize the treatment of existing orchards. This results in an aid to producers for the purchase of fertilizers and pesticides, "said Michael Ndoping.

The rise in cocoa prices in recent years has also helped boost the sector. The average purchase price of a kilo of cocoa planter has increased from 400 CFA francs in 2004 to more than 1,200 F CFA in 2011. And some farmers' organizations are well managed to sell their production to more than 1,500 F CFA per kilo.

Enough to forget the dark years. After the withdrawal of state in 1991, after the fall of commodity prices in the late 1980s, the plantations were abandoned. Occurred in 1994, the CFA franc devaluation has pushed prices of agricultural inputs, bringing to an unbearable level for farmers.
Like beer

About 16% of cocoa and coffee products 5% in Cameroon are processed locally. The government wishes to bring these percentages to 50%. Communication work and education could bring about an increase in consumption of coffee in the eating habits of Cameroonians ... and attract investors. "Why not consider taking the beer its place in the products consumed at home? "Dares the Director General of the NCCB.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.camnews24.com/fr/economie/cameroun/22911-cafe-cacao-le-cameroun-fait-monter-la-feve-lire-larticle-sur-jeuneafriquecom-cafe-cacao-le-cameroun-fait-monter-la-feve-jeuneafriquecom-le-premier-site-dinformation-et-dactualite-sur-lafrique

Small-caps: Bowleven leaps on resources upgrade



Bowleven jumped 19.6 per cent to 105½p after the oil explorer upgraded its estimate of resources at its Sapele site offshore Cameroon by more than 300 per cent.

The company said recent drilling suggested total resources in place at the prospect rose from 247m barrels of oil to 883m barrels.

Its estimate was on a so-called P50 basis, which implies a 50 per cent certainty of being produced.

Merrill Lynch raised its target price on Bowleven to 250p in response.

“Bowleven trades at the steepest discount to our new net asset value of our entire E&P [exploration and production] coverage, at a 65 per cent discount versus the peer group average of circa 30 per cent,” said the broker.

“With significant progress having also been made on the monetisation route, and with newsflow set to pick up over the near term, we believe the investment case is extremely compelling.”

Premier Foods rallied 15.1 per cent to 15¼p on news that Richard Johnson, a former Kraft executive who last year became the group’s corporate affairs director, bought a maiden stake of 200,000 shares at 13.15p each.

Separately, UBS raised its target price on Premier Foods from 2p to 10p, though the broker maintained “sell” advice.

Last year’s fears of a debt-for-equity swap have abated as a new management team secured the company two years of breathing space, it said.

But the bigger challenge will be simultaneously re-energising and shrinking Premier’s portfolio to pay down debt in a tough trading environment, UBS said, adding: “In our view the current valuation represents too big a leap of faith.”

Contract news lifted Anite by 8.7 per cent to 128p with the reservation system maker announcing a multi-year deal with Thomas Cook UK.

Thomas Cook had previously used Anite’s main competitor, BlueSky Travel Systems, which went into administration in 2009.

“This is a landmark win for Anite’s travel division and continues a run of excellent news flow for the group as a whole,” said Canaccord Genuity.

“Although the financial details have not been released, we estimate it to be in excess of £20m. As a result, Anite now expects group profits for 2012 to be at least at the top end of current market estimates, implying adjusted pre-tax profit at or above £26m.”

UMC Energy was up 22.2 per cent to 6.9p after revealing a farm-out deal on its Papua New Guinea assets with CNOOC, the Chinese state-owned oil company.

Bushveld Minerals made a successful debut on Aim, rising to 22½p from an issue price of 20p.

The South African iron ore miner raised £5.46m to fund expansion and scoping studies. Investment group Obtala Resources , down 0.4 per cent to 32.1p, retained a 46 per cent stake in Bushveld.


http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/4cf8dd70-776c-11e1-827d-00144feab49a.html#axzz1qacTwT1T

Telecommunications: The layout of the optical loop of Yaounde is known


By the end of 2012, Yaounde will have its fiber loop as the city of Douala.

According to information gathered in the technical services of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, this loop will have a total length of 67.6 km with 23.2 km of new pipelines and 44.4 km of existing pipelines. The launch of construction work are expected in the coming weeks. This work will be executed by the Chinese company Huawei. Just as in Douala, the deployment of the optical loop Yaounde cost about three billion francs from the Special Fund of financing telecommunications. This loop will enable operators and network operators to provide telecommunications services and high-speed applications, as well as fixed terminals on mobile devices.

translation from french with google translate

http://cameroon-info.net/stories/0,32885,@,telecommunications-le-trace-de-la-boucle-optique-de-yaounde-est-connu.html

Most corrupt countries: Cameroon 134th of 182

Transparency International. The NGO has released its 2011 report of the most corrupt countries.

The German NGO Transparency International has published on March 29, the index of corruption perception (Ipc) for the year 2011. The Cameroon is ranked 134th out of 182 countries assessed.

He obtained a score of 2.5 out of 10, knowing that the country whose rating is close to 10 are the least corrupt and those whose score is close to zero are the most corrupt. This year, New Zealand is the least corrupt with a score of 9.5 out of 10, followed by Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

Botswana, ranked 32nd with a score of 6.1, is the first least corrupt African country. At the bottom, Somalia is the most corrupt country just ahead of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and North Korea. In 2010, the Cameroon Ipc ranked 146th of 178 countries assessed. The country was then a score of 2.2 out of 10.

The Ipc is a classification of countries or territories on the basis of perceived levels of corruption in their public service. The index is based on a set of reports, data and surveys conducted by both institutions and experts operating in countries and territories assessed.

Corruption is understood here as the abuse of power by public officials for private purposes. According to Transparency International, the data sources used to calculate the Ipc are dealing with abuse of public power, the example of the corruption of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds. The NGO also takes into account the efforts and effectiveness of measures put in place to fight against corruption in the public sector.


translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/04/02/pays-les-plus-corrompus-le-cameroun-134eme-sur-182/

Bowleven sells off Gabon oil licence


Edinburgh-based oil company Bowleven is to focus on its Cameroon operations after selling its wholly-owned Gabon licence for more than $35m (£21.9m).

Bowleven sold its 100% interest in the EOV permit to Anglo-French oil and gas firm Perenco.

The sale has boosted its net cash balance to $160m (£100m).The proceeds will give Bowleven additional working capital to further explore the potential of the Douala Basin in Cameroon.

This week Bowleven said it was fully funded for its two exploration sites in Cameroon.

Chief executive Kevin Hart said: “The disposal of our interest in the EOV permit enables Bowleven to concentrate its resources on core areas of the business where we believe we can create maximum value for shareholders.

“The cash generated from this sale provides Bowleven with further financial flexibility to pursue the multiple opportunities identified on our Cameroon acreage.”

The company, which specialises in oil and gas exploration in West Africa, was recently the target of a potential takeover by Dragon Oil.

However, Dragon said last month that it was “no longer exploring an offer” for the firm.

BBC

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/03/30/bowleven-sells-off-gabon-oil-licence/

Cameroon power plant to be finished in 2014



YAOUNDE, Cameroon -(MarketWatch)- The World Bank’s Cameroon country director Gregor Binkert assured the African nation’s president, Paul Biya, that construction of the giant Lom Pangar hydroelectricity dam needed to boost the country’s economy will be completed in 2014, state-radio reported Saturday.

“Preparatory work has already started. The constructor of the dam–a Chinese company–has already been selected. We expect to disburse funds for the dam’s construction by June or July this year.

The European Investment Bank will also disburse funds by June. So, we think that the work can now go on. With all these preparations done, all this work done, we stay optimistic and we’re confident that by 2014, work on the dam will be finished,” Binkert told reporters after holding talks with Biya at the country’s presidential palace Friday.

The assurance comes after the World Bank approved a $132 million zero-interest loan Tuesday to help Cameroon build the dam.

A total of XAF193.6 billion ($393.7 million) is needed to construct the hydroelectricity plant, whose dam will hold 7.25 cubic kilometers of water and generate 1,192 megawatts of hydroelectricity supply for industrial and domestic use.

While Cameroon’s government has already made available XAF46.8 billion as its part of funding, the rest of it will come from local and foreign lenders such as: the World Bank; the European Investment Bank; the French Agency for Development, or AFD; the African Development Bank, or AfDB; and the Development Bank for Central African States, or BDEAC.

To be built on the twin Rivers Lom and Pangar in Cameroon’s East Region, the plant is being managed by state-run Electricity Development Corporation. The EDC recruited China International Water and Electric Corporation, CWE Corp. in August 2011 to build the plant’s dam.

Construction work on the site began in November 2011. The Lom Pangar project is part of Cameroon’s battle to fight acute power shortages and increase electricity output and launch giant industrial projects, including for the rural population, 14% or which is still without electricity.

Cameroon aims to spend $12 billion to triple its electricity output by 2020, according to a government strategy paper.

American energy giant AES Corp. AES +0.38% , which currently accounts for Cameroon’s 1,000MW is the lone provider of the West African nation’s electricity.

By Emmanuel Tumanjong / MarketWatch

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/03/31/cameroon-power-plant-to-be-finished-in-2014/

Cameroon built a more efficient postal network


FCFA 32 billion to modernize the network operation of the Cameroon Postal Service (Campost). The construction of Datacenter result of the MoU signed between the heads of State of Cameroon and China is to interconnect the 234 post offices spread across Cameroon. Indeed, "134 would be connected with fiber optics and 100 by satellite links " says Robert Alabatena, team leader of the project operational.

"The e-post is an ambitious project in which we modernize and rehabilitate the entire network of the postal network to make it more competitive and therefore more useful to all of Cameroon's economy and all Cameroonians," said Minister of Posts and telecommunications (MINPOSTEL), Jean Pierre Biyi bi Essam, after the visit.

Made possible by Eximbank (the first Chinese bank) and Campost, this project called e-post is to modernize all services and network of about 234 agencies Campost platform via internet tracking of mail, packages and services, the interconnection of the 234 agencies, the creation of a data center for acquisition, processing, and secure data exchange. Not to mention the reduction, for example, and the delay between the filing and receiving mail, the setting up traceability activities and developing its money transfer service.

translation from french with google translate

http://cameroon-info.net/stories/0,33345,@,telecommunications-le-cameroun-construit-le-reseau-postal-le-plus-performant-d-a.html

Korea to improve public transport in Yaounde

The International Cooperation Agency of Korea (KOICA), represented by Ra Kapchae and the Yaounde City Council, by Gilbert Tsimi Evouna signed on April 9 a financing agreement of about 675 million CFA francs in the "Public Transport System Improvement Project."


Said project aims to improve the public transport system in Yaounde.


On April 9, the two parties agreed that this two-year project that will engulf about 675 million FCFA, will be supported by the South Korean government. By 2030, Yaounde should have a new public transport system, such as rapid bus, streetcar, or light rail.


Before getting a new transport system in Yaounde, "Public Transport System Improvement Project", at first, will establish a transportation plan. In a second phase, the project will focus on the feasibility study. Third, recommendation will be made on the operating system bus through a public / private partnership.


At the end, we will transfer knowledge and technology in the field of management and planning of public transport as is done in South Korea.


For example it is expected that 14 South Korean experts travel to Cameroon during the implementation of the project and more than 10 Cameroonian officials will be invited to the training program in Korea.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.investiraucameroun.com/transport/1204-3237-un-coup-de-main-de-la-coree-pour-ameliorer-le-transport-public-de-yaounde

Telecommunications: A submarine cable for intensive internet access


The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications has conducted Thursday, April 12 a visit to his landing point located at Limbe. This instrument is the work of several specialized groups including Mtn international.

For further development of telecommunications and a penetration rate of internet (currently 2% to 3%) that match the requirements of development and emergence, Cameroon now boasts of another submarine cable. Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (MINPOSTEL), went on the anchor point of african West cable system (WACS), based in Limbe in the Southwest region. Arrived late morning on the site located in a suburb of the seaside town with Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai, Biyiti Bi Essam was able to realize the magnitude of the investment made by the mobile phone network, MTN, the initiator of the project in Cameroon.

After a marathon tour of facilities and infrastructure, guided by the staff of Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Cameroon, MINPOSTEL took those words speak for themselves: "The submarine cable fiber optic infrastructure is a strategic Development of telecommunications in Cameroon. " According to the director of infrastructure and access networks to ICT in the Ministry of Post, Lucien Nana Yomba, "with saturation in the next two years of the Sat-3 (since 2002, it is the only optical fiber cable available whose landing point is Douala, Editor's note), the WACS obeys the logic of "open access" to any operator or Internet service provider not only in South Africa but also in other african countries through the excess capacity available to the WACS system. "

Information Highway

This ability to illustrate, is comparable with the transfer data corresponding to a library of 25,000 books in less than a minute! All things that have been told to Gilbert Ngono Onguene, technical director at MTN Cameroon that "Cameroon is now pegged to the era of information highways." "This is an alternative to what existed before. The optical fiber that is in the form of a wire glass whose diameter has the size of a hair, are by far (in front of the satellite and microwave), the best technology for data transmission. She has the ability to transmit signals and data at the speed of light with a bandwidth that can be almost unlimited, "he added.

Funded and endorsed by the South African government by the people skills of their operators' Broadband Infraco, "to provide South African Universities broadband access, the WACS along 14,000 km linking Europe and Africa, across the Atlantic Ocean with 15 connection points. In addition, the WACS is also supported by groups such as International Mtn, Vodacom, Telkom Sa, and Neotel.

:cheers2:

translation from french with google translate

http://cameroon-info.net/stories/0,33462,@,telecommunications-un-cable-sous-marin-pour-un-acces-intensif-a-internet.html

Memve'ele: The Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation Ltd signed the construction contract



The hydroelectric dam of Memve'ele will be delivered in 2016, is worth about 365 billion CFA francs

The contract to build the hydroelectric dam of Memve'ele was signed last Wednesday, April 11 in Yaounde by Basile Atangana Kouna, Minister of Water and Energy, representing Cameroon, and Ronghe Lan, head of the company Chinese Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, chosen to carry out this work. This contract gives the green light to the Chinese company selected to perform in 54 months, this infrastructure which brings hope to the country. Now, Sinohydro Corporation Limited can be deployed on the site without any trouble. An important step in achieving this major project. And just the signed documents, Lan Ronghe presented the face of business, providing guarantees on the quality of work. "We are committed to fully utilize local resources," said the Chinese entrepreneur. These include working with labor and raw materials available locally. "We will meet the deadlines specified in the contract," said the boss of Sinohydro.Minister Basile Atangana Kouna was satisfied after the signing of this contract which marks the effective start of construction of the hydroelectric dam of Memve'ele. An infrastructure that will eventually produce 201 megawatts of electricity to relieve the people of the deficit of electric energy. Access roads to the construction site are carried out at 60%. Moreover, Basile Atangana Kouna can talk calmly, since he visited the site to form his own idea of this development. The two signatories are also in agreement symbol of Sino-Cameroonian, always growing. The proposed hydroelectric dam Memve'ele, will be delivered in 2016 and evaluated at about 365 billion CFA francs. China is financing the construction of the dam and plant. The infrastructures for the energy transportation, the substation and interconnection of the South are supported by the African Development Bank. The access road is financed by Cameroon State

:cheers2:

translation from french with google translate

http://www.journalducameroun.com/article.php?aid=11111

Germany Seeks Better Cooperation Ties With cameroon


The Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Government Commissioner for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises and Tourism in the German Ministry of Economy and Technology, Ernst Burgbacher is heading a government and business delegation to Cameroon to seek ways of strengthening technical and economic cooperation between his country and Cameroon.

The German government official and members of his delegation had a working session with the Prime Minister, Head of Government,Philemon Yang at the Star Building on Monday April 16, 2012 at the start of their working visit to the country that ends on April 18.

Talking to the press at the Prime Minister’s Office, Ernst Burgbacher disclosed that the team was in Cameroon to strengthen cooperation in the sectors of renewable energy development, fertilizer production, security, and infrastructure. The German investors and officials are also interested in capacity building for the youths, job creation and will therefore use the visit to promote their country’s enterprises in Cameroon.

Discussions with different government officials, the business community and field visits are to discuss projects in these areas. For instance, they are scheduled to visit the Kribi Gas-fired Plant Project on Wednesday April 18 and discuss with the Cameroon business community today, April 17 in the economic capital, Douala. The visit follows the decision by the German government to foster relations with Africa, Ernst Burgbacher said, stating that Cameroon, with which his country has close historical ties, was an important partner.

Prime Minister Philemon Yang, the German government official said, was open and interested in the German drive to foster technical cooperation ties. Cameroon has a lot of possibilities, according to the delegation leader and Germany would want to use them as a stepping stone to foster the already existing economic and technical cooperation.

From the Prime Minister’s Office, the German delegation had separate discussions with the Minister of External Relations; Mines, Industries and Technological Development and Economy, Planning and Regional Development, among others. They were accompanied by the German Ambassador to Cameroon, Reinhard Buchholz.

Cameroon is one of the 57 partner countries with which Germany has development cooperation in the technical, cultural and financial sectors. There are over 5,000 Cameroonian students in Germany, in addition to business people.


http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67875:germany-seeks-better-cooperation-ties-with-cameroon&catid=1:politique&Itemid=3

By 2030, Yaounde should have a new public transport system, such as rapid bus, streetcar, or light rail.



Why not all? 18 years is plenty of time to install BRT & rail. Heck it could be done in 5-10 years (multiple rail lines, BRT even faster).

Rural Electrification : Gov’t Engages Private Investors


The government of Cameroon in partnership with the European Union has drawn up a project to woo private investors to invest in renewable energy so as to bridge the wide demand/supply gap in rural electricity. The 36-month project worth about FCFA one billion jointly financed by the European Union (75 per cent) and the Electricity Sector Regulatory Agency, ARSEL, (25 per cent) was officially launched yesterday April 12 at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel.

Energy and Water Resources Minister, Basile Atangana Kouna chaired the ceremony attended among others by the Minister Delegate in charge of Rural Development in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Clémentine Ananga Messina and the Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegation in Cameroon, Raul Mateus Paula.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Basile Atangana Kouna said the project was timely, given the growth vision of the country and the new electricity law promulgated last year. Like the Minister, Raul Mateus Paula said energy supply is a veritable catalyst for development and that partnering with government for the Invest’Elec programme was synonymous with boosting rural development, contributing to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and rolling back poverty. A view corroborated by the General Manager of ARSEL, Jean - Pierre Kedi and his counterpart of FEICOM, Akoa Philippe Camille who alongside other stakeholders of rural development, also signed partnership deals at the ceremony.

The programme is drawn up by ARSEL with technical collaboration of a firm, Etude Engineering Development (EED). According to the fact file of the project, it seeks to build the capacities of Cameroonian small and medium-size enterprises in view of inciting them to invest in renewable energy and rural electrification, promote private/public sector partnerships as well as engendering sustainable development in the sector. After yesterday’s inaugural, stakeholders say capacity-building workshops in the various regions and an international knowledge-sharing forum are in view to better arm private investors. Those interested would be drilled on drawing up and creating small energy plants. Garoua, Ngaoundere, Yaounde, Douala and Bamenda are pilot centres.

:cheers2:

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67838:rural-electrification--govt-engages-private-investors&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

Why not all? 18 years is plenty of time to install BRT & rail. Heck it could be done in 5-10 years (multiple rail lines, BRT even faster).

I agree 18 years is enough to build all of that !! But as we know our politics i doubt and I think that the journalist who wrote this article was also pessimistic like me.

The Yassa-Dibamba plant : best energy project in Africa in 2012

Short deadlines of realization and ratio quality-price for the customer.
Two major elements have lobbied for the choice of the Cameroonian infrastructure.Short deadlines for implementation, 27 months, and ratio quality-price for the customer. The award was received by Jean David Bile, President of AES African power (Apco), during a bright gala held March 28, 2012 at the Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa in the presence of the cream of the electric power sector in Africa. "This project executed promptly allowed AES to provide additional power of 88.3 megawatts (Mw) to the interconnected south (Ris) in Cameroon within 27 months, which has greatly reduced the power cuts resulting from weather conditions, including scarcity of water in the existing hydropower plants in the dry season, "justifies the jury.For this year, the two finalists in the category "Finest Fast Track Power Project" were KNBE Project (360 MW hydro, Zambia) and the proposed power station Yassa-Dibamba (88.3 MW, thermal, Cameroon). The project-Dibamba Yassa was implemented through a bridge loan of $ 60 million (about 39 billion CFA francs) obtained from five local banks, namely Afriland First Bank, Bicec, CA-CBS Cameroon, SGBC and Standard Chartered Bank. The refinancing of the project was conducted through an agreement of long-term financing of $ 68 million with the group of the African Development Bank (ADB), International Finance Corporation (IFC), member of the group World Bank and the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), which allowed to repay the bridge loan.

International Exhibition of African energy and electricity

This long-term funding represents 75% of total project costs and with a duration of 14 years, it has contained the electricity prices applied to consumers. The ceremony was held in Johannesburg in the International Exhibition of African energy and electricity (Power & Electricity World Africa Show) was held from March 27 to 29, 2012. This show, the largest event held in Africa on energy and electricity attracts producers and entrepreneurs, government representatives, large consumers and independent power producers.
The Central Dibamba is a plant of 86 MW heavy fuel oil at the entrance of the city of Douala (Cameroon's economic capital) and connected to the Southern Interconnected Grid (Ris). The plant has been operational since 2010 and provided a peak power to the most populous and industrialized parts of Cameroon. It reduces the load shedding during the dry season caused by increasing demand and inadequate existing capacity, including original water main. Energy project for historical note countries face a demand constantly growing. AES Sonel is the largest customer Dibamba Power Development Company (DPDC) a contract to purchase power capacity has been signed to this effect by the two companies. By building this important station, the AES group has demonstrated once again that he is committed to supporting projects of independent production of electricity in Cameroon. AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is positioned as one of the largest electricity companies in the world, with revenues of about $ 16 billion in 2010. The group currently manages assets totaling more than $ 41 billion. In 27 countries on five continents, AES operates production facilities and distribution of electricity capable of providing sustainable energy and cheap to 100 million people worldwide. Its workforce in the world, estimated at 29,000 people, is committed to the path of excellence and is working to meet the growing global demand for energy. Business Week magazine has selected AES in its ranking of 50 best companies in the world for 2009.

:cheers2:

translation from french with google translate

http://www.camereco.com/article.php?aid=571

7 billion FCFA for cotton and food crops

The Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Abdoulaye Yaouba, signed last week in Khartoum, Sudan, a loan agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).


translation from french with google translate
The loan which is approximately 7.4 billion FCFA to finance the proposed development of cotton and food crops in northern Cameroon.

Sources close to the said ministerial department indicate that the project has three components, which will be realized through the channel of the Cotton Development Company (Sodecoton). This is primarily to support research and farmers. Then, the IDB money will be used to promote cotton ginning through the installation of an industrial unit and finally the development of food crops (millet, sorghum, peanuts, etc..).


translation from french with google translate

http://www.investiraucameroun.com/agriculture/1704-3252-cameroun-7-milliards-f-cfa-pour-le-coton-et-les-cultures-vivrieres

2030?! You can design and build a BRT for a whole city in a few years.

And 4.5 years to build a 200MW dam seems a little slow.

Will these projects actually happen? Cameroon is one of the most corrupt nations in Africa. Why the sudden infrastructure development? Its the same president, right?

2030?! You can design and build a BRT for a whole city in a few years.

And 4.5 years to build a 200MW dam seems a little slow.

Will these projects actually happen? Cameroon is one of the most corrupt nations in Africa. Why the sudden infrastructure development? Its the same president, right?

To be honest I dont know, but this man has been in office since 1982, so maybe he is trying to keep the population happy so he can cling on to power? probably not but its just a suggestion.

2030?! You can design and build a BRT for a whole city in a few years.

And 4.5 years to build a 200MW dam seems a little slow.

Will these projects actually happen? Cameroon is one of the most corrupt nations in Africa. Why the sudden infrastructure development? Its the same president, right?

Cameroon is maybe the most corrupt nations in Africa but i know that since 2004 the fight against corruption is a reality. For example the IPC 2011 ranks Cameroon 134th of 182 with a 2.5/10; in 2010 it was 2.2/10.The "Cameroun vision 2035" is on the way which will transform Cameroon to an emerging country by 2035.That's the reason of all these infrastructure development projects underconstruction now.

Cameroon is maybe the most corrupt nations in Africa but i know that since 2004 the fight against corruption is a reality. For example the IPC 2011 ranks Cameroon 134th of 182 with a 2.5/10; in 2010 it was 2.2/10.The "Cameroun vision 2035" is on the way which will transform Cameroon to an emerging country by 2035.That's the reason of all these infrastructure development projects underconstruction now.

Can you publish this plan in English?

Can you publish this plan in English?

I have it in pdf but in french! I'll find it now in english.

here is the link you can download it in english it's a pdf document.

http://www.minpmeesa.cm/uploads/media/Growth_and_Employment_Strategy_Paper__GESP_.pdf&sa=U&ei=KOCPT8zuBYqv8QO78JySBA&ved=0CBkQFjAC&usg=AFQjCNFoZQHGfmBccHNdpTxB76V09R-thA

Cameroon: the users will pay their electricity bills by phone or Internet


(Agency ECOFIN) - The chief executives of MTN Cameroon, telecom operator, and AES Sonel, electricity provider, signed April 11, 2012 a partnership agreement whereby subscribers of AES Sonel will be able to pay their bills via the mobile money service from MTN Cameroon, MTN Mobile Money. This service offers three payment options: mobile phone, Internet and retail outlets to MTN.
Commenting on the agreement, Karl Toriola, CEO of the telecommunications company, said "Mobile Money solution is available in all regions of Cameroon. It offers customers the opportunity to be informed by SMS on the availability of its invoice, the amount payable and the payment deadline. Another SMS alert the customer forty-eight hours before the end of their bill. The solution also enables Mobile Money to pay bills remotely near. "Karl Toriola, "this partnership is a great opportunity for AES Sonel and MTN who mark their anchor in modernity."

translation from french with google translate


http://agenceecofin.com/electricite/1904-4448-cameroun-les-usagers-vont-payer-leurs-factures-d-electricite-par-telephone-ou-internet

here is the link you can download it in english it's a pdf document.

http://www.minpmeesa.cm/uploads/media/Growth_and_Employment_Strategy_Paper__GESP_.pdf&sa=U&ei=KOCPT8zuBYqv8QO78JySBA&ved=0CBkQFjAC&usg=AFQjCNFoZQHGfmBccHNdpTxB76V09R-thA

nothing came up

here's another link you have to make a click on ''telecharger'' to download it in english.

http://www.minepat.gov.cm/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=8&Itemid=37

Electrification: 653 billion F CFA for rural sector


In order to electrify all the territory of Cameroon, a project called "Invest'Elec" was set up by Cameroon with support from the European Union. The project goal is the promotion of private investment in the sector of rural electrification in Cameroon. It is estimated that the electrification sector in Cameroon requires the sum of 5.853 billion CFA francs, of which 653 billion CFA francs for the only sector of rural electrification. It is in this sense that Dr. Basile Atangana Kouna Minister of Energy and Water states that "this project. which aims, within 36 months to build the capacity of Cameroonian companies to make the operators of electrical services in rural areas, runs in a particular context, marked by the beginning of the major achievements, the enactment of new legislation governing the electricity sector and the option of changing the rural sector through the introduction of the second generation of agriculture. "


The European Union will contribute up to 74% funding of total project cost "Invest'Elec" about 600 million CFA francs. Raul Mateus Paula, Head of EU Delegation in Cameroon, this funding from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), reflects "the will of the eu to contribute to sustainable development in Cameroon by a commitment to support in one hand the process of setting up ways for rural electrification, which will mobilize financial resources to promote the provision of energy services to rural populations. "The project" Invest'Elec ", which the Regulating agency of the electricity sector (Arsel) is one of the partners which will build the capacity of operators, promote dialogue and public-private partnership, and it intends to promote investment in time. The primary beneficiaries are the local authorities.


translation from french with google translate

http://cameroon-info.net/stories/0,33649,@,electrification-653-milliards-fcfa-pour-le-secteur-rural.html

:cheers2:

Numba-Bachuo Akagbe-Mamfe-Ekok Road: An Artery To Revitalise The Nation


When completed the corridor is expected to fetch vital economic, social and political gains.

The road projects being realised between Ekok (Nigerian border with Cameroon) and Numba passing through Mamfe on the stretch to Bamenda are foreseen to bring economic respite to the population of the entire central African sub-region. While factories in the vicinity are warming up to increase production, traders are bracing up to use the road to supply needs and wants of the populations.

To them, the road is an artery to revitalise the nation. On the industrial scale one observes in the markets of the area namely household utensils, detergents, textile and the rest, mainly from Nigeria. Socially, the thick populations along the Ekok-Mamfe-Numba road will integrate better as it will take shorter periods to travel across.

On the Numba – Bachuo Akagbe stretch of the road, environmentalists, health experts, and social workers are already at work measuring the impact of the project. The Chinese company (CRBC) began construction works on the 52.131-km Numba-Bachuo Akagbe road in 2008. It is part of the Mamfe-Bamenda stretch of the trans-African highway being funded by the African Development Bank (82.60 per cent) and the Republic of Cameroon (17.40 per cent). The contractor reported a 95.2 per cent physical execution rate to Public Works Minister, Patrice Amba Salla, last 19 April while he visited the site.

The second project, Bachuo Akagbe-Mamfe-Ekok road, commenced in 2010 by another Chinese contractor; China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE). The CWE took the contract for FCFA 49.6 billion (all taxes included). Funding is provided by the Japanese Cooperation Agency (JICA) for 49 per cent, the African Development Bank (46 per cent), and the Republic of Cameroon through its investment budget (5 per cent).

Work on the Bachuo Akagbe-Mamfe-Ekok was contracted for 36 months. The job effectively kicked off 23 February, 2010, and is expected to round off by February 2013.

Cameroon Tribune


http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/04/22/numba-bachuo-akagbe-mamfe-ekok-road-an-artery-to-revitalise-the-nation/

Making Domestic Timber Market Operational


An information campaign launched in Douala on April 19 will enhance the processing of timber.

The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Philip Ngole Ngwese, on Thursday in Douala launched the information campaign and awareness-raising about the organization, operation and implementation of Cameroon’s Domestic Timber Market (MIB) in a bid to enhance its functioning.

Like in other sectors, lack of information in the forestry sector has slowed the development of the domestic market.

Despite that the cooperation and support of partners has intensified over the past ten years, it continues shape government roadmap since 2012. In 2004, Cameroon became the first producer of logs from Central Africa, with 2,731,000 cubic metres for a forest covering more than 22.5 million hectares. At the processing level, the installed capacity in 2007 rose to 2.2 million cubic metres.

The Local timber market is marked by exports, due to the high demand for forest products outside the country, and the great potential of wood to generate foreign exchange. According to a 2005 study, the operationalization of MIB will enable the enhancement and further processing of timber and forest species.
“The forest sector needs to undertake a radical change to move from the current low competitiveness.

Characterized by major international challenges, the domestic timber market and wood craft is an indispensable promotional product, as it promotes transparency, fair competition and legality of timber traded,” the Minister noted, while pointing to the fact that “The production of the timber industry is in a stagnant trend if not downward because of the persistent logging of natural forests at the expense of the establishment of forest plantations, and the absence of local processing “.

Given this situation, the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife has undertaken a series of reforms and actions to encourage sustainable transformation of wood. Some results have been recorded. Of the current 21.5 million hectares of forests of which 17.5 million hectares are commercial forests, to date 114 Forest Management Units have been created over an area of 7,252,759 hectares. Ninety-nine of them are assigned, while about 43 are under certification. Forty-five per cent of concessions are granted to nationals and 55 per cent expatriates.

Minister Philip Ngole also visited some decentralized services of the Ministry in Douala, where he instructed for greater transparency in the sector. The contribution of the forestry sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated at 40 billion in terms of direct taxes annually.

Additionally it contributes to job creation, fuel consumption, creating business opportunities etc.

Cameroon Tribune


http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/04/23/making-domestic-timber-market-operational/

Cameroon will produce its own antiretroviral drugs


YAOUNDE, April 23 (Xinhua) - Cameroon intends to take a significant step in its fight against HIV / AIDS this year by producing its own drugs, particularly anti-retrovirals (ARVs) in order to make care more accessible to his patients through a partnership between a local pharmaceutical industrial company and a German laboratory.

For some 120,000 patients on ARVs out of a total of about 570,000 people infected, the Cameroonian government in 2011 announced spending of 12 billion CFA francs (24 million USD) for the purchase of these drugs that involve the posting of eight protocols from the fact that this central African country concentrates the different types of HIV, official sources.

In the opinion of the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda, on the occasion of the last edition of the World Day of fight against AIDS, "it's very very difficult to manage at the same time eight protocols. This is what can lead to certain protocols, tensions at some point. "

To better address these important needs, the authorities decided to encourage the initiatives of local production of drugs related to the pandemic. First result of this option, the Pharmaceutical Industrial Company (Cinpharm), already engaged in the manufacture of generic drugs, has partnered with the German laboratory 1A Pharma GmbH.

"We and our partner will do everything possible to bring in current year 2012 to market the first antiretroviral drugs made ​​in Cameroon, which should respect the quality," he told reporters after the signing of the partnership agreement Friday in Yaounde boss Cinpharm, Celestin Tawamba.

The country registered an encouraging increase by switching to a seroprevalence of 4.8% for a total population of 20 million inhabitants, against 5.5% in 2004. Through the Institute for Medical Research and Study of Medicinal Plants (IMPM, an agency under the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation), it is already producing its own testing of HIV.

Science professor of the offending drug laboratory in the Faculty of Medicine Xavier Bichat in Paris, France, and Cameroonian Eto Bruno has developed a drug that appears as a decisive step further in the treatment of HIV / AIDS. "We found a molecule that is intended to restore the body's defenses destroyed by the AIDS virus, thus restoring the body's immune," said one Xinhua.

Named fagaricine (F-532 for the trade name), the advertised product is described as a complement to ARV treatment. "The application of this product is simple. When you're infected with the AIDS virus, when the body's defenses are at 300, 250, that's where we begin to learn the medicine to kill the virus, "advised Prof. Eto.

Marketed for the first time in 2005, the fagaricine is available in Burkina Faso, Guinea-Conakry, Comoros, Gabon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Congo - Brazzaville om she has permissions placing on the market. "Now, we seek a representation for a permit in Cameroon and Nigeria."

translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/04/23/le-cameroun-se-lance-dans-la-production-de-ses-propres-medicaments-dont-les-antiretroviraux/

Wood Trade: Ghana Prospects in Cameroon


A delegation of the country’s experts yesterday held talks with MINFOF officials. Stakeholders in the wood industry in Ghana are currently in Cameroon to seek ways of partnership with their peers so as to develop the sector and boost the economies of both countries.

The 12-strong delegation led by Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mike Hammah, yesterday April 23 held discussions with officials of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF). The session gave both sides the opportunity to brief each other on what they are doing, the stakes and challenges and how to boost South-South cooperation on a win-win basis.

According to Mike Hammah, their visit has a dual-purpose - exploring Cameroon’s wood industry with the view of importing timber and promoting the Ghanaian wood experience. “We are here to explore what Cameroon has in terms of forestry and wildlife and also what Ghana can offer Cameroon in the spirit of South-South cooperation, especially in the spirit of intra-African trade,” the delegation leader said. Ghana, the delegation members said, had millions of hectares of forest but unsustainable land use practices reduced it to only about 1.5 million hectares today, forcing authorities to seek ways of reforesting degraded areas. In the proposed partnership, Ghana could buy logs from Cameroon and in turn share its reforestation experience with the country.

It emerged from the detailed presentation of the wood sector in Cameroon that the country possesses 22.5 million hectares of forest cover, including 17.5 million hectares of which is exploitable. The Ghanaian delegation also learnt that since 2000, natural forest production in Cameroon has stabilised at about 2.3 million cubic metres with minor fluctuations. Eighty per cent (1.8 million cubic metres) are processed locally.

Speaking to the visitors, MINFOF boss, Ngole Phillip Ngwese, said if only for the fact that 20 per cent of Ghanaian wood is sold to the European market against 80 per cent for Cameroon, partnership between the two countries could boost trade and reduce Cameroon’s dependence on the international market for its wood with all the possible adverse effects. Proof, the wood sector was one of the hardest hit in the country by the recent global economic meltdown. “When Ghanaian experts come as we have agreed, we will know exactly on what terms we are dealing with them on exporting our timber,” the Minister said.

Intra-african cooperation :applause:

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67996:wood-trade-ghana-prospects-in-cameroon&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

Natural gas to produce fertilizers



The MoU for the supply of this raw material in the factory production of chemical fertilizers was signed Tuesday in Yaounde.

A major step toward the production of chemical fertilizers was reached Tuesday in Yaounde, with the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding, under the gaze of the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Cameroon, Reinhard Buchholz. In a statement issued after the ceremony at the headquarters of the National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH), the deputy CEO of the SNH, Adolphe Moudiki, the first vice-president of the German company Ferrostaal GmbH (Ferrostaal) Kaspar Evertz, and the company president EurOil Limited (Euroil), Chief Tabetando, inform the public of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the supply of natural gas production for the future chemical fertilizers plant which will be located in Limbe, South-West region(English-speaking part of Cameroon).

The agricultural revolution advocated by the Head of State as part of its policy of Major achievements gradually takes body. In addition to the assembly plant of tractors and other farm equipment in Ebolowa which will allow to reach the stage of mechanization and increase acreage, chemical fertilizers, substances designed to provide the plants with additional elements nutrients in order to improve their growth and increase yield and crop quality, will boost agricultural production. The proposed plant will have an annual production of around 600,000 tonnes of ammonia and 700,000 tons of urea for the local market and export. Under the agreement signed yesterday, the three companies intend to cooperate in the gas fields Etinde permit, which is EurOil operator, be measured, developed and put into production on time compatible with the construction of the plant to ensure the supply thereof of natural gas from late 2015.

Gas requirements of the fertilizer plant are estimated at 70 million cubic feet per day, for a minimum period of ten years, the parties wish to raise to 20 years, with the contribution of other potential or existing gas fields Etinde identified on the permit. The agreement signed yesterday is an extension of that concluded by SNH and Ferrostaal October 13, 2011, in furtherance of a feasibility study of this project. The prefeasibility study was completed at the end of March 2012, and led to a preliminary design of the plant and the identification of a site of implantation thereof in the town of Limbe.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68013:du-gaz-naturel-pour-produire-des-engrais&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

Cameroon: 11 years later, the oil shipyard of Limbe only 54% of realisation


Agency (ECOFIN) - The Yard oil Limbe is a project set up in 2001. Its funding was completed in 2003 and work began two years later, for a period of three years. But the project suffered numerous delays, due to difficulties including the high number of conditionalities, the technical difficulties of starting some components and problems of governance and industrial shipyard of Cameroon (CNIC).

Facing the press yesterday, Monday, 23 April in Douala, the President of the Board (Pca) of the Shipyard and Industrial Cameroon (CNIC) Louis Claude Nyassa said the physical status of the priority components of the Yard shows that they are executed at 54%, while the financial execution rate is 41%. The construction of the breakwater, is he, is completed and received since May 2007.

Louis Claude Nyassa explained that the work of the Multi-Purpose Pier 400 m long are soon to start a new contract was signed in 2008 with a service following the completion of the first contract. On dredging, they have been completed since February 2006 ...

Servicing areas related activities, mooring dock, maritime signals, the acquisition of machinery and wiry, etc.., Are not yet delivered.

:ohno: it's pathetic !!!

translation from french with google translate

http://www.agenceecofin.com/hydrocarbures/2504-4533-cameroun-11-ans-plus-tard-le-yard-petrolier-de-limbe-n-est-realise-qu-a-54

^^

A regional school of engineering at Kumba (english-speaking Cameroon) in partnership with the institute 2ie



(Invest in Cameroon) - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Essimi Menye and Ginies Paul, Director General of the International Institute of engineering and water environment of Ouagadougou (2ie) signed in Monday in Yaounde a contract for the renovation and extension (on a new campus subregional) of the School for the training of specialists in rural facilities and amenities (EFSEAR) of Kumba and support technology development innovative agriculture and rural development.

In thanking Paul Ginies, Essimi Menye said the commitment of both parties is timely, especially since Cameroon is in full recovery of its agriculture.

He therefore hoped that the contest 2ie serve to "broaden the base of knowledge and know-how Cameroonian agriculture needs." But for Paul Ginies, it was more just a "payback", Cameroon had "invested heavily on 2ie for 40 years."

2ie of Ouagadougou (photo) is an international school after African mutations of the Engineering School of Rural Equipment since 1968. Today, the Institute trains future engineers or licensees, masters from some fifty countries from various continents.

With Cameroon, its cooperation unfolds on various axes. In addition to rehabilitating agricultural schools in Kumba and Garoua with a view to train learners in the sub-region, it also aims to train 1,000 engineers and 500 managers by 2022.



GCM

translation from french with google translate

http://www.investiraucameroun.com/formation/2604-3281-une-ecole-regionale-d-ingenieurs-a-kumba-avec-l-institut-2ie

Wood Trade: Ghana Prospects in Cameroon




Intra-african cooperation :applause:

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67996:wood-trade-ghana-prospects-in-cameroon&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

^^
good news

website of Cameroonian Pharmaceutical Company Cinpharm

http://www.cinpharm.net/

website of Cameroonian Pharmaceutical Company Cinpharm

http://www.cinpharm.net/

thanks a_bondima for your contribution !! :okay:

Sodecoton: FCFA 15 Billion Investment on Oil Mills

The GM gave the balance sheet and future plans during a news conference on Thursday April 26.

The General Manager of the country’s Cotton Development Corporation, Sodecoton, Iya Mohammed, has disclosed that FCFA 15 billion will be invested, as from this 2012, on the company’s oil mills to boost the processing of the product before export. He made the commitment yesterday April 26 during a news conference at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel to debrief national and international press on how the corporation has faired thus far as well as on what management plans for the future.

“From now on to 2015, we are going to invest FCFA 15 billion essentially on oil mills because our capacity is virtually full. We are getting finances from Arab donor countries. At the meantime, we will have more employment and this is just what is expected from us,” he said. Mr Iya added that it is Sodecoton’s desire for CICAM to consume more of its products. “As at now, they consume only 3,000 tonnes. Eight years ago, they were consuming 8,500 tonnes. We are happy that they are investing and very soon, they will increase their consumption,” the GM noted.

Looking back at how the corporation has faired, Mr Iya Mohammed said unequivocally that Sodecoton, a flagship of Cameroon’s agro-industry and the economic hub of the northern part of the country, recruits 1,800 permanent and 1,500 seasonal workers and has a close partnership with over 250,000 producers grouped into over 2,000 common initiative groups. The production of cotton grain, he added, moved from 111,000 tonnes in the 2007/2008 season to 162,000 tonnes in the 2010/2011 season. It is projected to hit 180,000 tonnes this year and 230,000 tonnes during the 2012/2013 season.

From the statistics given, Sodecoton’s records for the past 20 years have been quite positive. “Our net benefit for the past 20 years is FCFA 30 billion. We have paid our shareholders’ dividends. Next year we hope to make profits of about FCFA five or six billion,” he added.

Among the burning questions from the press was one on the alleged confiscation of Mr Iya’s passport with regards to the ongoing clampdown on corrupt officials in the country. Without mincing words, Iya Mohammed said his passport has never been seized by whoever for whatever reason and that he is free to go anywhere at anytime.

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68063:sodecoton-fcfa-15-billion-investment-on-oil-mills&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

Mbalam Iron Ore Project: Mining Convention Key Terms Signed



Government, Sundance Resources Ltd and Hanlong Group officials signed them on Thursday April 26.

The Mbalam Iron Ore Mining convention will likely be signed in August 2012, the progress report on the ongoing negotiations between the stakeholders of the project has disclosed. The negotiations started six weeks ago paved the way for the partners to sign the Joint Statement on the key terms and principles of the convention on Mbalam Iron Ore mining project at the Prime Minister’s Office in Yaounde, yesterday, April 26, 2012.

The Secretary General at the Prime Minister’s Office who doubles as Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the project, Louis Paul Motaze signed for the Cameroon government, George Jones, the Chairman of the Sundance Resources Ldt/CAM IRON SA, signed for the company and Chairman of the Sundance Chinese strategic partner, Hanlong Group, Liu Han signed for his company.

The Joint Statement on progress made toward meeting the principles and key terms of the Mbalam Iron Ore Mining project will guide in the signing of the convention and chart the way forward for developing the project. After the convention must have been signed, focus will shift to the investments to be carried out to implement the project.

Speaking during the occasion on behalf of the Head of State and Prime Minister, Louis Paul Motaze, transmitted the Head of Government’s assurance of government’s commitment to conclude the mining convention as soon as possible. As such, government expects that the spirit of discussions during negotiations leading to the signing of the said convention be that of win-win partnership. He said the Cameroon government has since the beginning of 2012 mobilised experts who are working to prepare needed elements for future negotiations on the Mbalam convention and have them on time.

George Jones, Chairman of Sundance Resources Ltd/CAM IRON SA, said there were still some differences to be resolved and described the signing of the Joint Statement as a significant phase of the project. The Chairman of Hanlong Group, Liu Han expressed appreciation to President Biya’s leadership and support of the project’s Steering Committee, stating that the Hanlong Group was committed to developing the Mbalam mining project.

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68061:mbalam-iron-ore-project-mining-convention-key-terms-signed&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

Economy: FCFA 138 billion customs revenue in Q1 2012


Ms. Minette Libom Likeng Li, Director General of Customs entry has expressed his good report. And one can easily understand this attitude that has also not surprised the participants to know the division heads and the like, the sector heads of Customs, the Commanders of the active groups ..., from the ten regions of Cameroon. Indeed, the Cameroonian Customs currently has a record increase over the same period last year.

No less than 138 billion CFA francs have already been collected. A plate that could have been more had it not been extended barriers such "extreme religious which led to border closures in Nigeria with which Cameroon has very heavy trade, the proliferation of firearms and European crisis ..., "said Ms. Li Likeng Libom Minette.

This figure does not account for all sectors. The months of January and February have been some difficulties in the region of the Far North in particular including political instability in Nigeria. Because of the attacks of Islamic sect Boko Haram, the borders were closed. At the General Directorate of Customs, it is argued that there are at least three areas that are supplied by imports from Nigeria.

Although this rate of realization is not yet 100%, because the National Society of refining (Sonora) has still not paid its license fee, there is nevertheless something to be proud and scan the future with confidence " At present, there is no worry. We would still calling the shots. The Customs administration in Cameroon is among the best ", welcomed Ms. Minette Libom Li Likeng.

Also on the menu of this second meeting, after that which was held during the annual conference of central and decentralized services of the Ministry of Finance, the review of the level of implementation of the Roadmap in 2012, an update on ethics and governance. The Finance Act 2012 has established customs forecasts 550 billion. The year 2011 saw a substantial increase in revenues. Recoveries totaled 547.6 billion CFA francs against 528 billion CFA francs in 2010, an increase of 0.7 billion CFA francs.

In 2004, the reform of customs administration had revealed a need for modernization of Cameroon Customs aimed at improving the business environment. Plan appreciated by all partners in the supply chain.

But this initiative will suffer from a lack of funding for its implementation. The European Union has decided to provide assistance through the program to support the modernization plan of Cameroon Customs. The aim is to improve the efficiency of customs services through the facilitation of international trade at the Port and the airport in Douala, the improvement of customs revenue collection and strengthening of the economic mission of Customs.

translation from french with google translate

http://cameroon-info.net/stories/0,33842,@,economie-138-milliards-de-fcfa-de-recettes-douanieres-au-1er-trimestre-2012.html

:cheers2:

Valuation of local materials: A production plant of bricks inaugurated in Yaounde


The masterpiece is the result of cooperation between Cameroon and China. The semi-industrial plant for production of bricks from 1.5 hectares in area located in Yaounde Nkolbisson is finally operational. This is thanks to its official opening this Thursday, April 26, 2012 by Ms. Inspector General of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation.
The old project is a reality according Uphei Chinje Melo, CEO of MIPROMALO, the fruit of the concrete transformation of research results from the laboratory to the factory. This project dear to the mission of promoting local materials, MIPROMALO, comes at the name as it will provide households, bricks cost of land needed to build homes.



Development

The ultra modern factory inaugurated thus allow based on a mixture of clay and fuse lateritic soil, on average 20,000 bricks per day for an annual production of 5 million bricks. These allow local building materials, according to the experts, to make considerable savings during construction. Evidence, to achieve a housing type T4 is is to say, a lounge, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and two verandas with concrete blocks, you must pay an average of 14.5 million CFA francs. However, using mud bricks, you manage to make a saving of 1.5 million CFA francs. The benefits of the massive use of bricks are telling the CEO MIPROMALO it is the only material able to fight against poverty.

Such appeal shall be effective only if the patriotism in the consumption of products made in Cameroon took shape starting with the top of the state which still has not put into practice the circular of 12 March 2007 requiring all project owners and contractors delegated to value locally made mud bricks. This is the same spirit which still has not materialized in the agreement signed between the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing in which plans to build 10,000 social housing, yet excluded the use of local materials like bricks, tiles, tiles and pavers manufactured locally yet. One wonders then that will be for the 20,000 bricks produced daily at the plant Nkolbisson.

Floriane Payo


translation from french with google translate

http://www.camnews24.com/fr/societe/cameroun/23612-valorisation-des-materiaux-locaux--une-usine-de-production-de-briques-cuites-inauguree-a-yaounde

24 billion FCFA loan from Korea for training in Cameroon

South Korea has awarded a loan of 24 billion CFA francs in Cameroon for the construction and equipping of vocational training centers of excellence in Cameroon, APA learned from official sources Wednesday.

Under the terms of the agreement initialed by the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Zacharie Perevet, and the agency head of the Korean Human Resources Development (HRD) Young Jung Song, training centers professional will be built in Douala in the Littoral, in Sangmelima in the South and Limbe in the southwest (english-speaking part of cameroon) for a total of 24 billion CFA francs.
Funding is already available will be provided by the Cooperative Development Fund of Korea (CCDF), which should allow for the laying of the cornerstone of building such centers, respectively, 8 and 9 May 2012 in Sangmelima, then Douala and Limbe.

These projects will generate 1,500 direct jobs and over 3,000 indirect jobs by the end of work next year, says one.

Regarding "the quality of training provided," the agency representative said that the Korean "technicians trained in these training centers will become the driving force of economic development of Cameroon."


translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/05/02/24-milliards-fcfa-de-pret-de-la-coree-pour-la-formation-professionnelle-au-cameroun/

Container Terminal: New investments of DIT presented to the Minister of Transport



The presentation ceremony was held in Douala, under the auspices of Anthony Samzun, the Chief of Douala International Terminal



Eager to modernize and further develop the capacity of the container terminal, DIT has recently acquired new equipment for handling, lifting and transport, valued at ten billion CFA francs. They include lifting equipment, reachstackers, tractors, tractors port, trailers, etc.. It is this handling equipment that was presented to the Minister of Transport (Mintrans) this April 26, 2012, so that he appreciates the efforts that this company provides in the direction of reducing crossing times at the port of Douala. The ceremony took place inside the terminal, with Christophe Pujalte, the CEO of Bolloré Africa Logistics. Precisely in terms of appreciation, Robert Nkili was inexhaustible. "This is a latest generation equipment. I can only congratulate DIT for this work ", recognizes, among other things, the Mintrans, some testimonies by serving size. "Since the start of its activity, the number of containers handled by DIT increased by over 75%, from 190,000 twenty-foot equivalent containers to 3330,000. This increase in traffic was achieved by adapting the means and procedures for handling the terminal the highest international standards, "Robert Nkili place. "Through its investments and its performance, shipowners who escalent at Douala place DIT among the best container terminal in Africa," he insists.
Concession agreement
This reaction is almost identical to that of the Director General of the Autonomous Port of Douala (PAD), also impressed by the quality of investment. "This material lift is the most efficient of the time. This is a latest generation of materials that we should be proud, "said Emmanuel Etoundi Oyono. "You can not have these devices without gates. Just like you can not have these devices without the gates. All this is important. So DIT has made ​​a good investment, "he says. Created as part of the concession agreement of the container terminal signed on 28 June 2004 with the CSA for a period of 15 years, says mission is to manage, operate and develop the business of container handling port Douala. We learn that since 2005, takes effect from the concession, 14.9 billion was invested in the purchase of handling equipment, lifting and transport, 4 billion in infrastructure and systems dedicated to one billion information and communication. "Meanwhile, says annual total of 500 million CFA program maintenance of its equipment," says Anthony Samzun. For 2012 and 2013, he informed the company the Bolloré group, plans to spend an additional budget of 13.2 billion overall investment of the terminal. In this budget, 10 billion will be spent on equipment and transport equipment and lifting.


translation from french with google translate

http://www.journalducameroun.com/article.php?aid=11245

FCFA 2.9 Billion To Boost Seed Production


A MOU to this effect was signed between MINRESI and IRAD in Yaounde on April 24,2012.
Good quality seeds will soon flood the market to boost agriculture in the country thanks to the CD2 Support Programme for Research. The Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, was signed on Tuesday April 24, 2012 in Yaounde between the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, MINRESI, and the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD. The two sides were represented by Minister Madeleine Tchuinte and Dr. Noe Woin.

According to the MOU, both IRAD and MINRESI will coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programme. IRAD on its part have three main objectives including disseminating agricultural research results to farmers, developing innovation technologies with strong impact and reinforcing capacity- building of producers and stakeholders in the domains of agriculture, livestock, fisheries and environmental conservation.

In order to ensure food security and reduce poverty in line with President Biya’s vision, Dr. Noe Woin said they have drawn up 10 research programmes where roots and tubers, grains and poultry will be given priority. They will also improve on plantain, banana, cocoa and coffee seeds, and on the fragile ecosystem of northern Cameroon.

During the signing ceremony, Madeleine Tchuinte gave firm instructions not only to IRAD, but to all beneficiaries of the CD2 Support Programme. She said beneficiaries of the fund must make impact on the lives of Cameroonians and so, have to use the money efficiently in order to avoid being arrested as the least error will not be tolerated. Each research programme will be financed between FCFA 250 million and FCFA 300 million, the Minister added. To Dr Woin, she said the institute should come out with more productive research varieties to help producers obtain more yields. The Executive Secretary for CD2 Support Programme for Research, Pr. Roger Tchouamo, revealed that they will soon work with the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Technological Development in processing and exporting Cameroon’s products.


http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68105:fcfa-29-billion-to-boost-seed-production&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

Mbalam Iron Ore Project: 500-km Road To Be Constructed

The Permanent Secretary in MINIMIDT told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday April 27.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Technological Development, MINIMIDT, Ebang Mve Urbain Noël has disclosed that the 500-km railway line to be constructed from the Mbalam Iron Ore mines in the Upper Nyong Division of the East Region will be accompanied by a road of the same distance that will run across five divisions right to the sea terminal in Kribi in the South Region.

Speaking to journalists in his office in Yaounde on Thursday April 27, 2012, Urbain Noël said the National Mining Code obliges mining companies to invest in social infrastructure to improve the standards of living of local population. To this end, he said government has hired the services of advisors to assist in negotiating the terms of the mining lease with Cam Iron Ltd which he described as the first of its kind in Cameroon. It is for this reason that the lease is being carefully developed to avoid problems or disagreements in future, Urbain Noël pointed out

In preparation for the start of construction of the railway line that will help in transporting the iron ore from the mines to the seaport for export, the Secretary General said details of the eventual location of the line, displacement of people and payment of their compensation were being worked out in association with relevant government ministries.

The money for paying the compensation would not be a problem, he said, assuring that the whole process could take about six months. The construction of the rail line itself is expected to last about four years and to cost between US $ 3 billion and US $ 4 billion (about FCFA 1,484 billion and FCFA 1,979 billion). Work on the rail line will be completed before mining proper begins, the Permanent Secretary pointed out.

It was gathered that the mining agreement could be signed this August. Officials of the mining company, Cam Iron Ltd, its partners and government on April 27 in Yaounde signed a joint statement, committing to the key terms of the mining agreement that is being worked out.

The vast iron ore reserves in Southeast Cameroon are known to extend to neighbouring Congo Brazzaville and Gabon, but ore from all the mines will be exported through Cameroon’s Deep Seaport in Kribi.

:cheers2:

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68107:mbalam-iron-ore-project-500-km-road-to-be-constructed&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

Can you post a map of the line? Does it go through populated regions?
All this news from cameroon is so strange...i still dont understand why the same corrupt leader has suddenly decided to develop his country.

It is weird, maybe he has had a sudden realisation that if the country was developed then it could reach its full potential, which is to become a very powerful nation in Africa. Anywho, as long as it develops then i'm happy and i'm sure that the people of Cameroon are as well :)

Can you post a map of the line? Does it go through populated regions?
All this news from cameroon is so strange...i still dont understand why the same corrupt leader has suddenly decided to develop his country.

i'll find it !

Cameroon to issue further 10 bln CFA bonds

YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Cameroon’s government announced on Friday it would issue 26-week treasury bonds worth a total 10 billion CFA francs on May 9.

Potential subscribers have until 9 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) the same day to do so at banks and financial establishments approved as primary dealers by the Ministry of Finance. Results of subscription will be published on May 10 with settlement date a day later.

The May 9 treasury bonds auction are part of plans by the country to issue 285 billion CFA francs worth of treasury bonds in 2012 to fund infrastructure projects. The first ones worth 20 billion CFA francs were issued in February and over-subscribed.

The cocoa and oil exporting central African nation raised some 250 billion CFA francs on the bond market in 2010 in an effort to finance the Kribi deep sea-port project, hydroelectric dams, water distribution pipelines and road improvements. Cameroon did not issue any bonds last year.

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/05/05/cameroon-to-issue-further-10-bln-cfa-bonds/

Lom-Pangar Hydro Dam Project: AFD’s FCFA 40 Billion Awaited Today


The Board of Directors are meeting this Thursday May 10 to consider the amount.
An additional sum of FCFA 40 billion is expected to be injected into the Lom Pangar Hydroelectric Dam Project today following a meeting of the Board of Directors of the French Development Agency (AFD). The money which represents AFD’s contribution to the project, will beef up the already pledged FCFA 117.79 billion from other donor agencies.
They include the African Development Fund with FCFA 32.89 billion, the Development Bank of Central African States with FCFA 20 billion and the World Bank with FCFA 64.9 billion. The ball was set rolling on January 18, 2012 when government signed a FCFA 32.89 billion agreement with the African Development Fund and another of FCFA 20 billion with the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC).
Then came the World Bank whose Board of Directors on March 27, 2012 approved US $132 million (about FCFA 64.9 billion) in interest-free financing for the project. For the African Development Fund and the Development Bank of Central African States, the disbursement is being awaited, given that they had already signed financing agreements with government.
All eyes are now on the European Investment Bank to approve the FCFA 21.4 billion expected from it and an eventual signing of financing accord with government probably alongside the World Bank and the French Development Agency to complete the overall financing of the project. According to the project fact file, the overall budget is evaluated at FCFA 193.6 billion. Internal resources to the tune of FCFA 46.8 billion have already been mobilised by the State and are already being used to prepare the ground for work to begin when the financing must have been rounded off and the foundation stone laid.
While waiting, other components of the project, the least of which is not the re-adaptation of the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline to the project, are already taking shape. Cameroon Oil Transportation Company, COTCO, tasked with re-adapting the pipeline route has already contracted an Italian firm, SICIM S.P.A, to carry out the project.


http://cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68216:lom-pangar-hydro-dam-project-afds-fcfa-40-billion-awaited-today&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

YAOUNDE May 9 (Reuters) - Morroco's leading home builder Addoha Group will start construction of a 20 million euro ($25.9 million) cement plant this month in Cameroon's economic capital Douala, the company said on Wednesday, in one of its first international ventures.

The plant will start up in December and produce some 500,000 tonnes of cement per year, Addoha Group President Anas Sefrioui said over state radio after a meeting with Cameroon President Paul Biya.

He added that Addoha intends to invest in the construction of low cost housing in the central African country "so as to give Cameroonians the opportunity to have comfortable lodgings". He gave no further details that aspect of the project.

Addoha is Morroco's top property developer but is seeking to expand its business into West and Central Africa. It said in its most recent earnings statement in March that it is seeking to enter the real estate markets in Ivory Coast and Guinea amid growing demand for housing.

Cameroon currently has only one cement producing company, CIMENCAM, with output of about 1 million tonnes from two plants.

Nigeria's Dangote Group inked an agreement with Cameroon last year to set up a 1.5 million tonne per year cement factory in Douala, though construction work has been delayed due to a legal dispute over land rights. ($1 = 0.7733 euros) (Reporting by Tansa Musa; Editing by Richard Valdmanis)

Oil revenues in free fall

(Invest in Cameroon) - From 195 billion CFA francs collected in the first quarter 2011, this year they tumble over the same period to 97.5 billion.

The National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH), the state-owned enterprise that manages on behalf of the State these natural resources has published on its website the total amount of transfer income injected into the public treasury on behalf of first quarter of 2012. The company, we learn, has transferred 97.5 billion CFA francs, an amount far behind the 195 billion paid during the same period last year. In relative terms, do we estimated, the lower volume of oil revenues is about 50%.

Clearly, the decline in oil production due to falling incomes returned to the Treasury. In the first quarter 2012, SNH indicates that three major operators in the oil platforms produced about 3.8 million barrels. Or 2.5 million barrels for TOTAL E & P, less than 1 million barrels for PECTEN, to 0.1 million barrels of Perenco and 0.2 million barrels were extracted from oil fields and Moundi Ebome.

The share of production was associated with around 2 million barrels. Last year, during the same period, the share of production in the state was about 3.4 million barrels, while the associated shared 1.7 million barrels.

GCM

translation from french with google translate

http://www.investiraucameroun.com/energie/1105-3329-recettes-petrolieres-en-chute-libre

Investment: Morocco will transform Cameroonian cocoa



From a statement of the Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atanagana, the Moroccan chocolate company through its branch in Cameroon, the Cameroon Investment Company, will launch in June 2012, the construction of a factory producing chocolate. Luc Magloire Atangana Mbarga made the announcement after leading a delegation of traders in the early days of economic and trade Cameroonian 2 to 6 May 2012 in Casablanca, Morocco.

During his stay, we learn, Trade Minister presided with Abdel Kader Amara, his counterpart from Morocco for Industry, Trade and New Technologies, an exhibition of products made in Cameroon. The two men took the opportunity to revisit the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. They welcomed the excellent political and diplomatic relations between Cameroon and Morocco.

Commitment was made by the delegations of Cameroon and Morocco to strengthen this cooperation with a view to creating a free trade area in Africa by 2017, according to the resolutions of the last Summit of Heads of States African Union. This is ultimately to increase the volume of trade between Cameroon and Morocco.

The arrival in Cameroon of a Moroccan chocolate would be the second major benefit of trade missions led by the Ministry of Commerce in some African countries. Indeed, blows an authoritative source in this ministry is in a similar trade mission to Nigeria that the group of billionaire Aliko Dangote had been approached to build a cement plant in Cameroon. A project that is now questionable, given the hassles that the Cameroonian government imposes Nigerian investors on the site of the Elf base in Douala, following a denunciation of Sawa chiefs who claim the site. Putting brackets on an investment of 50 billion CFA francs, and an opportunity for direct employment for 200 Cameroonian.

Another Intra-african cooperation :applause:

translation from french with google translate

http://cameroon-info.net/stories/0,34267,@,investissement-le-maroc-va-transformer-le-cacao-camerounais.html

good project.

French Billionaire Bollore To Invest $100m In Cameroonian Rail Project

Vincent Bollore

French billionaire and CEO of Bollore Group, Vincent Bollore, has announced that he will invest about $100 million (50 billion CFA francs) to facilitate the construction of a high-speed train line in Cameroon, Reuters has reported.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting with Cameroon’s President Paul Biya on Monday, Bollore, worth $1.6 billion as of Forbes’ World Billionaires list in March, said the proposed train line will serve to link Cameroon’s capital Yaounde to its commercial hub, Douala. Bollore said the train line will be available within the next 12 months.


Africa's Richest Man Aliko Dangote May Sell Off Food Business
Mfonobong Nsehe
Contributor
The Bollore group, a French holding company with extensive interests in transport and logistics, energy, media and telecommunications, was awarded a 20 year-concession to manage Cameroon’s national railway in 1999 after the country’s government privatized the state-owned railway company in a move to enhance the efficiency of its rail transport networks.

Cameroon’s largely underdeveloped rail and transport networks continue to impede the Central African country’s economic growth, given that the country is a gateway port, serving neighbors such as Chad and Central African Republic. Bollore’s investment in the country’s transport infrastructure could significantly boost cross-border trade in the region.

The French billionaire has had other business forays in Africa. Through one of his subsidiary companies, Bollore Africa Logistics, Vincent Bollore is already the largest private operator of port concessions in Africa, with operations spanning 41 countries including Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia.

What? High speed train link?

Tell me more!

But I dont believe it can be done in 12 months, how much distance is there between the cities?

So I just looked, 200 km, I doubt they can do that in 1 year.

But it looks like they are serious about connecting to other African nations- the dream of a Mombassa-Douala railway lives on. I would love to see it. The only problem is C.A.R.

A high speed raiol line in Cameroon is amazing, well a high speed rail line anywhere is amazing. But 1 year does seem a bit short of time, I dunno if they can pull it off in such a short space. Do they have to go throigh planning and proposals and land ownership and all of that malarky first?

Nigeria, Cameroon to exploit hydro-carbon along common border
15/05/2012


President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday pledged that Nigeria would take 'necessary steps' towards the exploitation of the hydro-carbon resources along its border with Cameroon. President Jonathan gave the indication here while speaking with Mr. Ahmadou Ali, the Cameroonian Vice Premier, who handed a special message to him.

He said, 'We shall consider these proposals you have brought, and thereafter call a meeting to discuss relevant issues that will enable Nigeria and Cameroon to start the exploitation of the hydro-carbon resources along our border.'

President President Jonathan expressed appreciation to President Paul Biya of Cameroon for signing the trans-border security agreement and cooperating with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

He called for regional alertness to check the spread of terrorism.

President Jonathan said Nigeria would continue to lead the regional effort against terrorism, adding that the continued cooperation and collaboration among contiguous nations would help check the menace.

Earlier, the Cameroonian Vice Premier had presented his country’s counter-proposals to Nigeria on the exploitation of the hydro-carbon resources along the border, stating that the border demarcation in accordance with the judgment of the International Court of Justice was almost complete.

He expressed President Biya’s deep sympathy to Nigeria for the terrorist attacks in the country, and assured President Jonathan that Cameroon would support all efforts to check the menace.


source: Pana...

37 billion CFA francs for the construction of a solar thermal plant in Cameroon



More than 37 billion CFA francs will be invested to build a solar thermal Tibati in the northern part of Cameroon, in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and private operators of the renewable energy system Cameroon (CRES ).

With a capacity of 7.5 MW of electricity per day, this power plant with a capacity of 700 cubic meters of drinking water per day the Minister of Water and Energy, Basile Atangana Kouna said, "to reduce the energy deficit in several surrounding towns in the northern part of the country that are not yet connected to the grid AES Sonel," US-Cameroonian operator responsible for the production of electricity in Cameroon.

"This agreement is a strong signal in terms of improvement in supply of electricity and drinking water for the benefit of our people," said the minister, adding that the government's goal is equip the country electrical energy and improve drinking water supply "to participate in the harmonious development of Cameroon."

The promoters of this investment program, among others, the Dutch private operators SWEA Europe BV is a joint venture with Cameroonian companies and ACISE EXICEL, indicated that fifteen months will be sufficient to carry out the work.

In other words, "this means that Cameroon has a solar thermal plant in less than two years," said George Patrick Song, CEO of CRES.

He added that construction of this solar thermal "shows the interest that we must bring to the area of ​​renewable energy as an alternative to other technologies that can not be effective everywhere."

APA-Douala (Cameroon)


translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/05/15/37-milliards-de-fcfa-pour-la-construction-dune-centrale-solaire-thermique-au-cameroun/

New Cameroon bond auction oversubscribed




YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Cameroon’s May 9 auction of 10 billion CFA francs worth of treasury bonds was oversubscribed, with 25.49 billion CFA of bids with interest rates ranging from 1.95 to 5 percent, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

The auction was part of plans by the country to issue 285 billion CFA francs worth of treasury bonds in 2012 to fund infrastructure projects. The first ones worth 20 billion CFA francs were issued in February and over-subscribed.

The cocoa and oil exporting central African nation raised some 250 billion CFA francs on the bond market in 2010 in an effort to finance the Kribi deep sea-port project, hydroelectric dams, water distribution pipelines and road improvements. Cameroon did not issue any bonds last year.

© Thomson Reuters 2012 All rights reserved

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/05/12/new-cameroon-bond-auction-oversubscribed/

EU grants Cameroon banana sector 48 mln euros



YAOUNDE (Reuters) – The European Union will grant Cameroon 48 million euros for its banana sector as the Central African country seeks to double its annual output to 500,000 tonnes by 2013, state radio said on Friday.

It quoted EU resident representative Raul Mateus Paula as noting that the EU had signed an interim Economic Partnership Agreement with Cameroon in 2009 and was currently negotiating a full EPA for the Central Africa sub-region. EPAs are designed to reduce trade barriers between the EU and its partners.

Emmanuel Mbarga, head of the external trade department in Cameroon’s Ministry of Trade, said the money will be shared out to major producing firms with plans to boost output.

Cameroon produced 250,000 tonnes of bananas in 2011, up from 230,000 tonnes in 2010, due in large part to improved farming methods. It has announced plans to raise output to 500,000 tonnes by 2013 by opening more plantations.

The EU is Cameroon’s largest trading partner, accounting for 55 percent of all its exports.

© Thomson Reuters 2012 All rights reserved

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/05/12/eu-grants-cameroon-banana-sector-48-mln-euros-radio/

I think that this is more a "rapid train" (160km/h) than a "high speed train"(+200km/h). The same mistake was made for Gautrain in South Africa (160km/h).



Bolloré veut investir dans le train à grande vitesse au Cameroun



YAOUNDÉ (Reuters) - Bolloré prévoit d'investir 50 milliards de francs CFA (76 millions d'euros) dans un projet de train à grande vitesse reliant la capitale camerounaise Yaoundé à Douala, a annoncé lundi son directeur général Vincent Bolloré.

S'exprimant après avoir rencontré le président Paul Biya, l'homme d'affaires a également déclaré vouloir prolonger le chemin de fer camerounais vers d'autres pays voisins et investir dans les énergies renouvelables.

"Nous sommes venus parler du développement économique et de l'emploi au Cameroun. Nous allons investir plus de 50 milliards de francs CFA au Cameroun au cours de cette année et l'année prochaine", a-t-il dit, cité par le site internet de la présidence camerounaise.

Bolloré est devenu le gestionnaire de la compagnie nationale des chemins de fer camerounais en 1999 pour une durée de 20 ans après sa privatisation par le gouvernement.

Tansa Musa, avec la contribution de Bate Felix à Yaounde, Nicolas Delame pour le service français
http://fr.news.yahoo.com/bolloré-veut-investir-dans-le-train-à-grande-213254540--finance.html;_ylt=Ar6wSTmPSqR.NtGoNL87d.cGfsl_;_ylu=X3oDMTN1b3NyNm40BG1pdANKdW1ib3Ryb24gQWZyaXF1ZVNTRgRwa2cDZjY3NGYyNzItNDA2Mi0zY2EzLWEwNTctOGRlZjk3NjVhOWJlBHBvcwMzBHNlYwNqdW1ib3Ryb24EdmVyAzg5NGM3MTMwLTllMGMtMTFlMS1iYmZjLTY2OTgwN2M4MmRkZA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFyNzVsdGVjBGludGwDZnIEbGFuZwNmci1mcgRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANtb25kZXxhZnJpcXVlBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

I think that this is more a "rapid train" (160km/h) than a "high speed train"(+200km/h). The same mistake was made for Gautrain in South Africa (160km/h).

I think the same.

Statement by the IMF mission to Cameroon





Following is the text of the mission statement from the International Monetary Fund visit to Cameroon:

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Mr. Mario de Zamaróczy, visited Cameroon during May 2-16, 2011 to conduct the 2012 Article IV Consultation. The mission met with Prime Minister Philémon Yang, Minister Secretary General at the Presidency Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Minister of Finance Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, Planning, and Territorial Development Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, several other ministers, the National Director of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), other senior officials, and representatives of the private sector, labor unions, civil society organizations, and development partners. The discussions focused on recent economic and financial developments, the execution of the 2012 budget, and the economic outlook for 2012 and beyond. At the end of the mission, Mr. de Zamaróczy issued the following statement:

The recovery of the Cameroonian economy has continued following the 2008-09 global crisis, with economic growth estimated at 4.2 percent in 2011, and inflation contained below 3 percent. Economic prospects remain favorable and growth is projected to reach 4.7 percent in 2012, mainly on account of a rebound in oil production and exports, an increase in public investment on large infrastructure projects, and ongoing initiatives to improve productivity in agriculture. Inflation is expected to remain subdued in 2012, mainly because of efforts to increase food supply and continuing government subsidies on fuel and some utilities.

During 2011, oil revenue was higher than expected, past payment obligations were cleared, and more flexibility was achieved in cash flow management through the issuance of securities. However, current expenditure exceeded budgetary allocations and new unsettled payment obligations were accumulated. Efforts were made to strengthen tax and customs administration, improve public expenditure management, and deepen the dialogue with the private sector through the Cameroon Business Forum.

The 2012 budget is expected to benefit from windfall oil revenue generated by current high international prices. However, the execution of the budget could be hampered by the carryover of unsettled payment obligations and the higher-than-budgeted cost of fuel subsidies. In addition, it is uncertain whether the full amount of the planned bond issuance will be absorbed by the domestic and regional financial market. The budget could also come under pressure from contingent liabilities from the restructuring of distressed banks and from assistance to loss-making public enterprises. To ensure that budget execution will not lead to further accumulation of domestic arrears, the mission recommended to strengthen cash flow management and to reprioritize expenditures, taking into account the financing that may realistically be mobilized.

To preserve fiscal and debt sustainability over the medium term, it is important to reassess the fuel subsidy policy. A progressive elimination of the fuel subsidy could be accompanied by the setting up of a targeted social safety net to protect the most vulnerable segments of the population. The authorities should improve spending commitment controls to prevent further accumulation of domestic arrears and look for concessional resources to finance public investment, whenever possible. It is necessary to start rebuilding fiscal buffers. The mission supported the authorities’ decision to assess contingent liabilities fully and strengthen the monitoring of the performance of public enterprises.

The mission urged the authorities to conclude the resolution process of distressed banks swiftly to preserve financial stability and minimize costs to the public finances. It emphasized the need to engage the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CAEMC) authorities to enhance the regional supervisory body’s resources and to further define rules and decision mechanisms for the treatment of troubled banks. The mission also encouraged the authorities to speed up the implementation of reforms to remove obstacles to accessing bank credit.

To unlock Cameroon’s growth potential, the mission agreed with the authorities that it is critical to reduce the constraints to higher and more inclusive growth by continuing to address infrastructural bottlenecks, raise the quality and efficiency of public spending, and improve the business climate and governance. It is also important to accelerate regional integration. The mission was encouraged by the authorities’ commitment to take action to help achieve these objectives.

“The IMF’s Executive Board is expected to examine the report on the 2012 Article IV Consultation with Cameroon in July 2012. The mission would like to thank the authorities for their warm hospitality, excellent cooperation, and constructive dialogue.



SOURCE: International Monetary Fund / via Bloomberg

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/05/18/statement-by-the-imf-mission-to-cameroon/

AllAfrica
Country-Morocco Cooperation - New Ambassador Takes SeatBy Lukong Pius Nyuylime, 21 May 2012 Comment


Two events, all concerning relations between Cameroon and Morocco took place at the Unity Palace last Friday, May 18; presentation of the letter of credence and receiving in audience of the Chief Executive Officer of Attijariwafa Bank.

The first event which commenced at 1pm and which had to do with the presentation of the Letter of Credence took place under strict diplomatic setting. The setting consisted of the mounting of the guard of honour spiced by the Presidential Guard band, singing of the National Anthems of both countries, first for Cameroon on the arrival of the Designated Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Cameroon and second that of Morocco at the exit of Ambassador after the presentation of the Letter of Credence.

As usual, it was a ceremony of speeches but that which Ambassador Lahcen Saile handed the letter from King Mohammed VI to President Paul Biya assigning him with the responsibilities of Ambassador to Cameroon. The new Ambassador, who is married and father of three, has a rich professional career. After his university studies in political science from where he earned the "Certificat d'Aptitude de l'Académie de Droit Internationale de Lahey" , he got his recruitment into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Copperation as adviser in 1986. From there he held several posts of responsibilities including post of Adviser at the Moroccan Embassies in Cairo, Beyrouth and Abu-Dhabi. Among the positions he held priority to his appointment to Cameroon was Head of the Division for the Maghrebian-Arab Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Head of State was accompanied in the ceremony by his close collaborators including, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, Minister of External Relations, Ferdinand Ngo Ngo, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Martin Belinga Eboutou, Director of Civil Cabinet, Col. Emmanuel Amougou, Chef d'etat major de President de la Republic, and Col. Raymond Etoundi Nsoé, Commander of the Presidential Guard. Ambassador Lahcen Saile equally presented to the Head of state members of his suite.

Whereas the first even was purely diplomatic, the second had an economic shape with Mohammed El Kettani, Chief Executive Officer of the Attijariwafa Bank announcing the interest of his bank in financing some of the major projects streamlined by President Paul Biya. After a 40-minute audience with the Head of State, the Attijariwafa Bank official told reporters his financial institution that owns 51 percent shares of Cameroon's Société Commerciale de banques SCB-Cameroun was eying projects such as the Kribi Deep Seaport, electric power supply, and agro-industry projects. He equally announced the interest of his bank in boosting Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Cameroon and investing in low cost housing.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201205211416.html

anybody have more information about the deep seaport project ?

I hope that gabon, cameroun, equatorial guiniea... will work togother to make one big sea port as a hub for central africa, and other country can host air trafic for the region and so on... this way they will complete each other and at the same time they will have big infrastructure that can compete internationally. A single country can't make the volume to compete in an international level. I hope that central african will work togother to emerge economicly, and the same go for west african, east african. South africans already have a hub in south africa that serve the region.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201205211416.html

anybody have more information about the deep seaport project ?

I hope that gabon, cameroun, equatorial guiniea... will work togother to make one big sea port as a hub for central africa, and other country can host air trafic for the region and so on... this way they will complete each other and at the same time they will have big infrastructure that can compete internationally. A single country can't make the volume to compete in an international level. I hope that central african will work togother to emerge economicly, and the same go for west african, east african. South africans already have a hub in south africa that serve the region.



The Kribi deep seaport is underconstruction and work on the ground it s going at a normal speed to meet the deadline which is on 2014.

The Kribi deep seaport is underconstruction and work on the ground it s going at a normal speed to meet the deadline which is on 2014.

Can you post details about it?

Im really excited about whats going on in Cameroon right now.

If this Mombassa-Kribi rail becomes a reality, it will be amazing for both countries. :cheers:

The economic growth posted though is way too low, I would expect Cameroon to be growing at least 6-7%. I guess it will hit that rate in the middle of the decade as the effects of improved infrastructure kick in.

good news for the Kribi sea port, they were many parties ready to finance it, more details on the article from All africa.


AllAfrica

Cameroon: Kribi Deep Seaport - Significant Milestone

By Lukong Pius Nyulime.

The year 2011 started with positive signs for the Kribi Deep Seaport project with the organisation of the first round table conference of investors on the construction of the port in what observers described as a giant move towards financing the project.

The conference had three main objectives, first, to let people know what the project is all about; second, to make people react and third, to find out those who are interested in the project as far as financing is concerned. And so, investors came from China, Canada and Europe with almost all of them expressing their willingness to finance its construction.

It was indeed an important trigger that ended up fast-tracking the process. Chinese companies especially, empirically expressed their interest in the project. Two of the companies that were present at the Yaounde confab, the China National Electric Equipment Corporation and the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited said they will be participating in building the port construction.

The rapidity with which the process evolved proved the determination of the government to make it a reality. The emission of the first-ever auction of Treasury bills to help finance major projects in the country including the Kribi Deep Seaport further raised hopes. Of the FCFA 200 billion raised, FCF 21 billion were allocated to the project. The presentation of the project during the laying of the foundation stone made it clear that China had accepted to disburse a loan of FCFA 207.7 billion through the Eximbank of China and had already mobilised its counterpart funding to the tune of FCFA 36 billion to meet the entire budget of the first phase evaluated at over FCFA 240 billion.

The clearing of the thick forest in one of the sites in Mboro that will host the general ports, excavation of the top soil and backfilling of the area were visible signs the project would at last become a reality. The Kribi Deep Seaport is an important project that will not only serve Cameroon but the whole of the Central African sub region. In effect, it has as motivation to develop the country towards the production of ore resources, notably bauxite, Iron, Cobalt and Nickel; satisfy the constant need of Cameroon to have a Deep Sea Port, the necessity for the sub-region to have a container off-shore terminal and a transhipment as well as goods distribution platform from Senegal to Namibia. The project equally sets out to realise a development corridor for Kribi (Cameroon), Bangui (Central African Republic), Kisangani (DR Congo), and the Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo stretches.

Upon completion, the main port with five to 16 metres draught will receive big vessels with a capacity close to 100,000 tonnes. This will fill the gaps of the Douala Seaport whose draught is only six to seven metres and can at best receive vessels with a capacity of 15,000 tonnes. The second and third phases of the project are expected to be financed by private companies on the "Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)" system.

Cameroon wants to produce annually 30,000 tons of pork



Cameroon, with the assistance of the World Bank, plans to produce annually 30,000 tons of pork in the short term to bridge the gap of 17 000 tonnes that is currently experiencing, APA learned from the National Development the pig industry (PNDFP).

According to statistics, demand for pork is estimated at 47,000 tonnes per year, while domestic supply is just over 30,000 tons.

To fill this gap, the PNDFP and the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA), with support from the World Bank, focus on the establishment this year of a unit production of improved breeds of pigs.

The doubling of the production envisaged is primarily to cover domestic demand, said MINEPIA, Dr. Taiga, adding that then could export.

Moreover, some five hundred producers across the country have been identified to lead this project. These piglets selected to receive and technical support to improve their production received a framework that is expected to create hundreds of jobs and promote self employment.

Aside from beef, fish and chicken that arrive in the winner's meat consumed in Cameroon, the pork industry is also highly developed, which has also led donors like the World Bank to provide support to improve production capacity.

APA-Douala (Cameroon)

translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/05/25/le-cameroun-veut-produire-par-an-30-000-tonnes-de-viandes-de-porc/

Can you post details about it?

Im really excited about whats going on in Cameroon right now.

If this Mombassa-Kribi rail becomes a reality, it will be amazing for both countries. :cheers:

The economic growth posted though is way too low, I would expect Cameroon to be growing at least 6-7%. I guess it will hit that rate in the middle of the decade as the effects of improved infrastructure kick in.

popa1980 here s some news that you requested.




Port of Kribi The breakwater already built at 17%

Friday, April 13, 2012

The work of the most essential part of the port complex follow a normal timetable. The port itself should host the first ships in 2014.
Friday, April 13, 2012, many of the Delegation of the project coordinator for the construction of deep water port of Kribi are privileged to walk the 235-meter breakwater already built. Construction of the dam began Jan. 15, 2012. Four months later, about 1335 meters long planned for this dam, it has already achieved 17%. For this, we have already used 40 000 cubic meters of stone taken from the quarry Eboundja, located some five kilometers from the port. The seabed to the surface of the dam, it is 9.8 meters, to a final width of 10 meters. But, as we explain the engineers, as and as we advance towards the sea, the depth will be greater, and the height of the dam will also increase. And as had been arrested in the timing of the project, the seawall will be completed in October 2013, officials promise of the China harbor engeneering company (Chec).

This will delight Patrice Melom, project coordinator at the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Planning (Minepat). "We are pleased but also reassured that the work is well underway and the timetable is met. The dam is well underway and we think we can trust our Chinese partners to complete this work, "said the official. Special attention is retained on the seawall just because a port is the essential part. As explained by Mpila Ayissi, expert in charge of infrastructure arm, the dam creates a pool of calm water without which the different ships can not dock, neither be treated. "It creates a stable, isolated movements of the sea, that ships to dock, be unloaded or loaded," he says. In addition, as revealed by an engineer, this book is the most expensive port. The seawall will indeed swallow alone just over 100 billion FCFA. That makes 45% of 240 billion CFA francs to be used to build the whole harbor.


Obviously, the dike is not the only structure already committed since October 8, 2011, when the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the port. One can see that Chec has already built the concrete plant. The construction of the deepwater port of Kribi will require huge amounts of concrete. This is central to the height of such a task, then it has a capacity of 120 cubic meters of concrete per hour. For now, the concrete it produces is used, for example, for blocks of artificial protection of the dike. Another thing you can see this on former marshland of Mboro: the city of frames Chec, which currently employs 360 people in this project, including 120 Chinese and 200 Cameroonians hired as laborers and technicians. Moreover, the Chinese have committed the layout of the access road to the port site to allow easy movement of their gear. Note that the road linking downtown to the site of Kribi port will be built at 200 billion FCFA.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroon-info.net/stories/0,33553,@,port-de-kribi-la-digue-de-protection-deja-construite-a-17.html

Cameroon says Cargill eyes 50,000-ha oil palm project



U.S agribusiness conglomerate Cargill plans to invest up to 200 billion CFA francs ($390 million) in a 50,000-hectare oil palm plantation in Cameroon, an official at the Central African nation’s investment agency said on state radio.

Marthe-Angeline Minja, director of Cameroon’s Investment Promotion Agency (API) made the comments after meeting Cargill officials but did not give further details, while a Cargill spokeswoman said the firm does not comment on speculations.

“At any one time, Cargill is assessing a number of initiatives to progress our business strategy, which may help to further develop our businesses and grow our presence in particular markets,” said Corinne Holtshausen

“It is our policy that we will communicate only as and when there are any significant developments,” Holtshausen said in an email response on Tuesday.

Minja said Cargill has shown interest in investing between 100-200 billion CFA francs immediately in the country once it is offered the opportunity.

“They (Cargill) are in a sector which creates employment and the investment is a serious one. We at the API think it is a project to be taken seriously,” she said.

Cargill already has investments in Cameroon’s cocoa sector where Telcar Cocoa, its joint venture partner, is the country’s leading cocoa exporter.

The oil palm sector in Cameroon and other sub-Saharan African nations have attracted interest from international agro-industry groups.

New York-based agricultural company Herakles Farms plans to develop a $350 million 60,000-hectare oil palm plantation in the country, while Biopalm Energy, a subsidiary of Singapore’s Siva group said in August it will launch a 900 billion CFA Francs ($1.75 billion) palm oil investment project.

Environmental groups have however raised concerns that some of the oil palm projects could endanger plant and animal species, a charge the firms have rejected.

May 22, 2012 | Reuters|

http://cameroonwebnews.com/2012/05/22/cameroon-says-cargill-eyes-50000-ha-oil-palm-project/

Cameroon cocoa grinder purchases hit 28,033 T



Cameroon’s sole cocoa grinder, Sic-Cacaos, bought 28,033 tonnes of beans by the end of April since the start of the 2011/12 season in August, according to figures issued on Friday by the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (NCCB).

The figure compares with 26,287 tonnes bought in the first nine months of the season last year, Reuters reports.

Purchases in April were down to 98 tonnes from 269 tonnes the previous month, and 255 tonnes during the same month last year.

Sic-Cacaos, based in Cameroon’s economic capital and main port city Douala, is a subsidiary of Swiss chocolate firm Barry Callebaut and supplies cocoa products to the central African region.

Reuters added that the cocoa company has a grinding capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year, but last year purchased a record 33,894 tonnes, putting excess tonnage in storage.

cameroonwebnews| May 22, 2012 | Original reporting: Tansa Musa; Writing by David Lewis)

http://cameroonwebnews.com/2012/05/22/cameroon-cocoa-grinder-purchases-hit-28033-t/

Fitch Lifts Cameroon’s Rating On Improved Domestic Debt Management



Fitch Ratings raised its ratings on the Republic of Cameroon one notch closer to investment grade, pointing to the Central African country’s improvement in domestic debt management.

Fitch upgraded its long-term foreign currency issuer default rating to B, five levels away from investment grade, from B-minus. The outlook is stable.

The firm said Cameroon’s rating is supported by the economy’s continued recovery from the global financial crisis, helped by rebound in oil production and revenues and higher public investment.

Fitch also noted that the issuance of T-bill and bonds in the domestic market since late 2010 and no recorded delays in interest payments have helped forge a track record of stronger sovereign debt service. Cameroon’s public debt is low compared to its peers, reflecting substantial debt alleviation obtained in 2006.

Fitch noted that Cameroon’s economic growth has historically been low compared to other sub-Saharan African countries due to insufficient investment in energy and transport infrastructure. However, economic growth improved to 4.2% last year as several large infrastructure projects were launched and oil prices rose. Growth is expected to reach 4.7% this year, Fitch said.

The firm also noted that Cameroon’s economy, though largely informal and heavily reliant on agriculture and commodities, is more diversified towards manufacturing than many sub-Saharan countries. The firm noted that oil production, which had been declining over the past decade, represented 7.1% of the country’s gross domestic product and 35.8% of exports last year. Fitch said output is expected to increase this year, a trend that will continue in the coming years.

Fitch said Cameroon’s ratings would benefit from a longer track record of sound sovereign debt service, as well as improved public financial management. The firm said a prolonged increase in oil output and greater investment in infrastructure would also help its ratings.

-By Nathalie Tadena | Dow Jones Newswires

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/05/30/fitch-lifts-cameroons-rating-on-improved-domestic-debt-management/

Thanks to all of u (a bondima, Hadrami, dakhla, gadiri, popa1980 and paperyostrich) for your contribution on this thread which makes it alive !

Bamenda (a town of the english-speaking part of Cameroon) Industrial Zone :FCFA 220 Million Compensation For Occupants


On the strength of a decision of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, some 117 inhabitants of metropolitan Bamenda and neighbourhoods have received a total FCFA 220 million in compensation for land recovered in Bamenda III Sub-division to serve the Bamenda Free Industrial Zone.

Beneficiaries were served cash and cheques in the Nkwen Fon’s Palace on May 24, 2012 with Mezam SDO, Mache Joseph Bertrand in the chair. Compensation received cover parcels of land, crops and houses with some beneficiaries taking home amounts that range from FCFA 200.000 through FCFA 10 million to FCFA 24 million. It emerged from the event that the Bamenda industrial zone covers some 43 hectares and will accommodate between 25-50 industries.

http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68488:bamenda-industrial-zone-fcfa-220-million-compensation-for-occupants&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

The General Manager of the Industrial Zone Development and Management Authority (MAGZI), Manon Christol Georges, who travelled to Bamenda for the event, was hailed for the methodical and transparent approach towards compensating occupants and facilitating the hitch-free process of establishing the free industrial zone in Bamenda. The Member of Parliament for Bamenda/Bali, Hon. Nchinda Forbi also took time off to salute the government for the creation, which according to him, is a solid base to develop Bamenda and surroundings. He urged the population to stand by and accompany MAGZI to establish the industrial zone that is expected to be a blessing with business and employment opportunities for the North West whose economy essentially hangs on petty commercial activities and agriculture.

Thanks to all of u (a bondima, Hadrami, dakhla, gadiri, popa1980 and paperyostrich) for your contribution on this thread which makes it alive !

Im really excited by all the infrastructure projects in Cameroon. The way it is looking you could well become the most developed subsaharan Francophone country.

How are Cameroonians? Are you business minded or are you like the Gabonese?

Im really excited by all the infrastructure projects in Cameroon. The way it is looking you could well become the most developed subsaharan Francophone country.

How are Cameroonians? Are you business minded or are you like the Gabonese?

We have the most diversified economy of the sub-region this is an argument to show you that we are different from gabonese people in business mind!!

VOC completes gas pipeline to central Douala




Victoria Oil & Gas (VOG) has announced the completion of the second phase of construction on a gas pipeline to central Douala, Cameroon

VOC, who commissioned and constructed the 13.2km pipeline, said the installation would provide the exploration and production company with access to more than 20 large industrial energy consumers in the area.

It said that it expected gas deliveries to customers from Logbaba to start later this month with first revenues expected in July 2012. The firm added that it anticipated sales of 1 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) from July 2012, which it said it expected to increase to 8 mmscf/d by the end of 2012.

“This is predicated on continuous production operations commencing in June 2012 when it is anticipated that three customers will have been certified as ready to take delivery of gas, including one large 24-hour bottle wash plant operation,” said a statement issued by VOC.

“A further five customers are at an advanced stage of completing their conversion requirements.”

The firm also announced the completion of an equity placing of US$4.9 million, an additional drawdown of $1.2 million of loan finance and the renewal of an existing Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (‘SEDA’).

VOG chairman Kevin Foo said, “The additional drawdown under the loan, the placing and the standby SEDA facility provides the company with greater financial flexibility ahead of becoming a cashflow positive company.

“In addition, we are currently in discussions with several parties in relation to a potential large debt facility to secure long-term funding for the Logbaba production operation,” he added.

It is understood that the company will used the funds raised through the placing and loan as a bridge to positive cashflow and the long-term debt funding of production operations in Cameroon.

Oil Review Africa

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/06/07/voc-completes-gas-pipeline-to-central-douala/

Haemodialysis: Yaounde teaching hospital gets renovated centre




On December 31, 2007 while addressing the nation, the President of the Republic, Paul Biya said “…I intend to instruct the government to provide provincial hospitals that do not yet have any with dialysis equipment and scanners to relieve patients who are obliged to undertake long and tiresome journeys…”

This statement was re-echoed by the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda, last Friday June 8 as he officially inaugurated the Yaounde Teaching Hospital haemodialysis centre which was renovated and equipped by the Japan Tokushukai Medical Corporation.

The Minister of Public Health said the event reveals one of the concrete realisation projects of the Head of State and marks another fruitful page in the relationship between Japan and Cameroon. The centre brings the number of Haemodialysis centres in the country to seven. The Minister used the occasion to announce that by September this year, there is hope to open the Bertoua and Ebolowa dialysis centres.

In the presence of the Japanese Ambassador to Cameroon and Cameroon’s Ambassador to Japan, André Mama Fouda expressed gratitude to the government of Japan through the Tokushukai Medical Corporation for renovating the centre which consists of 10 modern dialyses machine, with a capacity of 70 to 80 patients and a water treatment station with two coal filters, among others.

The government of Cameroon, on its part, rehabilitated the premises of the centre and also purchased some 7,058 dialyses kits that will help take care of patients for the next 12 months. The centre which was opened two days before its initial inauguration date had already admitted some 30 patients with acute kidney problems.
The Tokushukai Group has also promised to train some Cameroonian medical and technical personnel who will work alongside with Japanese staff at the centre.

The dialysis centre offers a wide range of haemodialysis facilities for hospitalised patients and outpatients with chronic or acute renal failure requiring dialysis treatment. The centre also caters for patients in Intensive Care Units and those who are critically ill and suffering from acute renal failure.

On behalf of the Tokushukai Medical Corporation, Katsuyuki Noso said the ideal of Tokushukai Group is that patients can live their lives with confidence. Noso noted, “Tokunshukai’s ideal is a society where everyone has access to optimum medical care whenever it is needed.

Inspired by the mission of realising this ideal and putting ourselves in the patient’s shoes, we devote all our efforts towards regional expansion and improvement in the service to the entire population”.

Cameroon Tribune


http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/06/11/haemodialysis-yaounde-teaching-hospital-gets-renovated-centre/

This gets better and better. Well done.

Whats the plan for agriculture? With your mountains you could also grow grapes, apples, strawberries etc etc.

So I just looked, 200 km, I doubt they can do that in 1 year.

But it looks like they are serious about connecting to other African nations- the dream of a Mombassa-Douala railway lives on. I would love to see it. The only problem is C.A.R.

Mombasa-Douala?It may happen but how things stands now, you cant really have an imagination of it.:)

Mombasa-Douala?It may happen but how things stands now, you cant really have an imagination of it.:)

Its being planned as we speak. Kenya is doing its part, with a line to South Sudan. Cameroon is building a new national rail network. So that leaves Central African Republic, which will be the biggest problem.

But I believe once the Cameroon, SS and Kenyan lines are in place, it should be easy to find an investor for the "missing link" across CAR. If the Nigerian government had brains they would be already thinking about linking up Lagos to Douala. Can you imagine being able to export something from Lagos and have it in Mombassa a few days later BY LAND!

Cameroon Oil: Dana group gets block adjoining Nigeria




The Cameroon government has awarded a group led by a unit of Dana Petroleum PLC, Aberdeen, a production sharing contract for the Bakassi West block in the Rio Del Rey basin adjoining the marine border with Nigeria.


The area covers nearly 390 sq km in shallow water. Dana is operator with 55% interest. Madison Cameroon Oil & Gas Ltd., an affiliate of Madison PetroGas, Calgary, has 35%, and SoftRock Oil & Gas Ltd., Douala, has 10%.

Work is to start almost immediately with data gathering and geological studies. Dana plans seismic in 2013 and 2014 and drilling by 2015. The 4-year, $31 million work program involves 250 km of 2D seismic, one commitment well, and one contingent well.

Depending on results, the program could be extended to two further periods of 2 years each. The supplementary periods would include 100 km of 2D seismic and the drilling of at least one exploration well per period. The total minimum investment for all three periods of 8 years’ duration is $71 million.

Oil & Gas Journal | June 15, 2012 |

http://cameroonwebnews.com/2012/06/15/cameroon-oil-dana-group-gets-block-adjoining-nigeria/

America Low-cost Houses Soon in Cameroon




A pilot project to this effect will soon start along the Mfoundi river bed in Yaounde.

The Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, is taking necessary measures to begin a pilot project for the construction of four sample houses along the Mfoundi river bed using a fast American housing technology

The government of Cameroon has again taken a bold step to provide quality low-cost houses to its citizens at affordable prices. This time around, an American technology is on the way.


The government, through the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, is taking necessary measures to begin a pilot project for the construction of four sample houses along the Mfoundi river bed using a fast American housing technology; Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). It is said that once the technology is adapted and appreciated by Cameroonians, SIPs production factory will be implanted in the country.

The Director General of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development at the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Janvier Oum Eloma says government embarked on the SIPs technology in 2011 after several missions were undertaken to the United States by personnel from the Ministries of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Urban Development and Housing, the Cameroon Real Estate Corporation (SIC) and the Local Material Promotion Authority (Mipromalo), during which the building technology was analysed and appreciated.

Janvier Eloma explains that the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development is doing everything possible to make sure that in the shortest possible time construction of four sample apartments, over 2,500 square metres land along the Mfoundi river around the Mvog-Atangana Mballa neighborhood in Yaounde begins. Janvier Eloma notes that upon completion, the houses will be State property. “The cost of renting such homes as well as who would be eligible to live in them, will be communicated when the time comes”, Janvier Eloma added.

Managing Partners, Larry Tansinda and Ivo Tasong, of Global Business Consultancy International Group (GBCINT), owners of the company charged with bringing the SIPs technology into Cameroon say the materials that will be used in constructing the sample houses arrived Cameroon in November 2011 and when the dispute over the piece of land that will be used is settled, construction will begin to be completed in four months.

They explain that SIPs is an innovative way to build houses using fabricated Steel tubes for structural strength while using Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) for insulation.

©2012 SOPECAM

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/06/22/america-low-cost-houses-soon-in-cameroon/

:)

Those houses seem like a good idea, but I've heard some are concerned with fire safety, especially as in the U.S where these houses are also commonplace they are the bulk of all fire related incidents. But overall they seem good and will hopefully bring many Cameroonians out of poverty and into affordable and decent housing.

Yeah it s a good idea...there is a huge lack of decent low cost houses in Cameroon! it will be great if this project takes shape...

Mbalam Iron Ore Project: Sundance Mobilises FCFA 20.8 Billion




The exploration of iron ore reserves in Mbalam, East Region by Cam Iron will in the days ahead receive a boost following additional 40 million dollars ( about FCFA 20.8 billion) funding pumped in by the mother company, Australian-based Sundance Resources Limited.

According to a release posted on the company’s website, the money raised through a placement with a 0.345 dollars interest rate per share; will be used to assist Sundance Resource Limited to undertake early works at the port and rail areas to help maintain the construction timeline, continue drilling on the previously announced exploration targets as well as help to provide general working capital for the company.

Commenting on the fundraising, Sundance’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Giulio Casello, is quoted to have expressed gratitude with the amount. “The strong demand from institutional investors resulted in the placement being significantly oversubscribed.

Funds raised allow Sundance to continue to develop the Mbalam Project which will further Sundance’s progress towards becoming a world-class producer,” he reportedly said.

The equity raising is said to be consistent with Sundance’s rights under the Amended and Restated Scheme Implementation Agreement signed with Hanlong (Africa) Mining Limited last May 2012. While waiting for a mining license, Sundance and Hanlong; the release further states continue to expect the scheme of arrangement to be implemented by mid November 2012.

Government, Sundance Resources Limited and Hanlong Group officials on April 26, 2012 at the Prime Minister’s Office signed the Joint Statement on the key terms and principles of the convention on Mbalam Iron Ore mining project with hopes that the Mining Convention would be signed in August 2012.

Information from Cam Iron says the Mbalam Iron Ore Project that straddles the border of the Republic of Cameroon and the Republic of Congo proposes development of mines in both countries which together will produce 35 million tonnes per annum.

Within the framework of the project, Cam Iron will construct a 510-km rail line dedicated to the transport of iron ore from the Mbarga mine to the Cameroon coast with a 70-km rail spur line to connect to the Nabeba mine in Congo as well as build a deep water iron ore export terminal in Lolabe- Kribi which will be capable of taking bulk “China Max” iron ore carriers.

©2012 SOPECAM

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/06/25/mbalam-iron-ore-project-sundance-mobilises-fcfa-20-8-billion/

Can someone PLEASE post a map of the railways planned in Cameroon?

Thanks

Perhaps we can use the rail infrastructure in the north of DRC to connect Juba with Mbalam, Cameroon?

Perhaps we can use the rail infrastructure in the north of DRC to connect Juba with Mbalam, Cameroon?

I read that the rail will extend just over the border to some mine(s) in DRC.

Can someone PLEASE post a map of the railways planned in Cameroon?

Thanks

Here's the link to a website with the map of the National Railway Plan of Cameroon:

http://camer.be/index1.php?art=14158&rub=12:1

China lends Cameroon 368 mn euros for road



YAOUNDE — Cameroon and China signed a large infrastructure deal Thursday that will see Beijing lend the African country 368 million euros to build its first new motorway since independence in 1960.

China’s Exim Bank will lend Cameroon 241.4 billion CFA francs (368 million euros, $451 million) for the first phase of a motorway between economic hub Douala on the western coast and capital city Yaounde in the centre, a statement said.

The 215-kilometre (135-mile), five-year road project will cost a total of 284 billion CFA francs, it said. Cameroonian officials did not say how the government planned to fund the remaining 15 percent.

Cameroon’s Economy Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi said the government had invited bids from Chinese companies.

The Exim Bank has become a major funder of African development projects as the Chinese economy has boomed.

The current link between the two cities is a two-lane road that is one of the deadliest in the country.

Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/06/29/china-lends-cameroon-368-mn-euros-for-road/

What? High speed train link?

Tell me more!

But I dont believe it can be done in 12 months, how much distance is there between the cities?

Reading between the lines, you'll understand that the investment of Vincent Bollore is to facilitate the construction of a high-speed rail line between Yaounde and Douala rather than build a new line from the ground up. Sections of the current line dating back to the colonial era will require significant investment upgrades to support a high-speed train service. Under Cameroon's railway master plan, high-speed service should attain 160 km/h. However, the current line is not electrified, does not possess the necessary signalling systems, and suffers from a narrow gauge.

Gov’t Solicits Korea’s Financing, Expertise In Energy Production




The second Korea-Cameroon energy cooperation forum held in Yaounde last Friday.

The government of Cameroon has expressed its wish to see South Korea step in with funding as well as expertise to boost its energy production both for industrial and domestic use. Water Resources and Energy Minister, Basile Atangana Kouna, made the appeal last Friday June 29 while presiding at the opening ceremony of the second edition of Korea-Cameroon Energy Cooperation Forum at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel.
The forum, like the first which held on December 8, 2011, sought to highlight the country’s energy potentials and needs to Korean investors who comprised stakeholders from giant energy-related companies. The Minister said Cameroon’s energy sector is endowed with abundant resources. “The discovery of substantial gas reserves gives us hope for a promising future in the use of liquefied natural gas or the processing of this gas into electricity. Intensive research in the domain of hydrocarbons reveals interesting possibilities. We also have great potentials in renewable energy. We believe that fruitful cooperation between Cameroon and Korea can contribute to the development of this sector as a response to the policy of greater accomplishments advocated by our Head of State, Paul Biya,” Dr Atangana Kouna said. “From this perspective, Cameroon will not only need financing, but proven expertise as well. We are convinced that our cooperation will provide us with the two elements, since Korea has proven its worth in these domains,” he continued.
Unlike the first edition of the forum that only explored investment opportunities in Cameroon’s energy sector, the second permitted participants from both the public and private sectors in the two countries to discuss business ventures they could engage in to curb the energy shortfall currently experienced by Cameroon. Reason why there were paper presentations and discussions on topics like, “Financing electricity sector,” Legal framework of the electricity sector, gas and petroleum products,” “Bilateral cooperation in energy industry,” “Introduction of Hyundai’s Diesel Power Plant” as well as “Suggestions for the development of the Steel industry in Cameroon.”


http://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69066:govt-solicits-koreas-financing-expertise-in-energy-production&catid=2:economie&Itemid=3

China’s First Highway wins Cameroon motorway deal



YAOUNDE (Reuters) – A Chinese firm has been awarded the contract to build a six-lane motorway linking Cameroon’s capital Yaounde and the economic hub city of Douala, the west African nation’s economy minister said.

The news come days after Cameroon reached a 241.4 billion CFA francs loan agreement with China’s Eximbank to finance the project.

“We launched a bid and it is a Chinese firm, the China First Highway Engineering Company that won the contract. Work will start soon and will be completed within a maximum five years,” Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi said on state radio late on Monday.

The expressway will cut the distance travelled between the two cities from 265 km (165 miles) on the existing road to about 215 km and it is also expected to benefit trade for the entire central African sub-region, particularly Central African Republic and Chad that rely on Douala for much of their trade.

© Thomson Reuters 2012 All rights reserved

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/03/chinas-first-highway-wins-cameroon-motorway-deal/

China’s First Highway wins Cameroon motorway deal




http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/03/chinas-first-highway-wins-cameroon-motorway-deal/

I'm glad this is happening, Cameroon has a major shortage of paved roads, so its about time more were created, are there any other plans to pave roads or create new ones, because isn't something like only 10% of Cameroons roads paved. Anyway this is what is needed to make the country sucsessful.

Solar energy on the horizon for 250 localities



A service contract was signed Tuesday for the installation of hundreds of photovoltaic plants.

Bridging the energy gap plaguing Cameroon is undoubtedly a fight at all times. And every day is a step taken in this direction. Tuesday is the production of 500 megawatts of energy, which officially went into construction.

This after Basile Atangana Kouna, Minister of Water and Energy and Youtou John Bothe, Fides Management Group representative, have signed the service contract, the Project for photovoltaic Cameroon 2020.

This is a project of construction and installation of mini solar power plants across the country, for a total of 580 billion francs According to the presentation form of the project, the plants will be built in fifty places, with priority to rural areas, strongly no electrical power.

This project, funded by donors and Korean Americans, aims to strengthen energy production guarantees far from thermal power plants and hydroelectric. "There is even talk of the first major clean energy project in Cameroon," said Jean Youtou Bothe, General Coordinator of photovoltaic plants.

The realization will occur in two phases and the first is scheduled for early November 2012, with the beginning of the dry season. This phase, lasting one year, will produce 100 MW, 135 billion F investment. It will cover seven cities including Sangmelima, Maroua and Yingui. At the end of the project, approximately 250 communities that will benefit from solar energy.

But, says the general coordinator, the group Fides Management is then that to produce the energy that will then be available in Cameroon. Hence the signing of a power purchase contract, during yesterday's ceremony, with Electricity Development Corporation (EDC). Under the gaze of Yaouba Abdoulaye, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Planning.

Once the energy at its disposal, the EDC will inject into the network AES-Sonel, or make available to municipalities through the Rural Electrification Agency. "This operation will last 25 years and, until Fides recoup those investments.

Then we will return the infrastructure in the state, "said Jean Youtou Bothe. Within five years, all plants should have been installed, with an estimated annual production of over 145,000 MWh. But already, the developer says the field, the feasibility studies are looped.

Cameroon Tribune

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/03/de-lenergie-solaire-a-lhorizon-pour-250-localites/

translation from french with google translate

I'm glad this is happening, Cameroon has a major shortage of paved roads, so its about time more were created, are there any other plans to pave roads or create new ones, because isn't something like only 10% of Cameroons roads paved. Anyway this is what is needed to make the country sucsessful.

Yes of course! Now there is many projects of roads construction launched as you can read in this section. for example the road that will link cameroon to congo(Ouesso) is underconstruction, and so as the road to join Nigeria (Enugu)...

AVIC Signs Three-Plane Deal With Cameroon




China’s AVIC International has reached a 61 billion CFA francs (USD$116.3 million) deal with Cameroon for the delivery of three of the aircraft maker’s MA60 turboprop planes, the company said on Wednesday.

The aircraft, which seat about 60 passengers, will be delivered by September and will be used on domestic and sub-regional routes by the central African nation’s revamped state-run airline Camair.

The airline’s fleet includes a Boeing 767-300 and two 737-700s.

Xu Bo, an AVIC executive who signed the deal with the Cameroonian government, told journalists two of the planes would be sold to country while the third would be a gift.

She said AVIC will also provide spare parts and training to Camair staff.

Reuters

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/05/avic-signs-three-plane-deal-with-cameroon/

Implementation of the budget of Cameroon in the first quarter 2012




Cameroon's economy was marked by a revival of activity in the first quarter 2012, mainly because of increased food production and manufacturing, according to a memo on the economy released Thursday by the Ministry of Finance.

Ministry of Finance

Implementation of major projects is also beginning to produce positive results, in a context of the collection of budget revenues (oil and non oil).

Thus, budget revenue collected recorded an overall increase of 6.3% over the same period a year before.

Spending, in turn, grow in the range of 18.1% yoy.

In terms of forecasts, Finance noted an achievement rate of 101.2% from the forecast, total expenditures are for their part in removing 50.8%.

The total service of the public debt of Cameroon, the first quarter of this year, rose by 14.2% between the two periods, with an implementation rate of the service of the order of 177.7 %.

The Ministry of Finance still finds a "deteriorating terms of trade and the growing deficit of foreign trade", which will not facilitate the recovery of desired reserves.

APA-Yaounde (Cameroon)

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/06/bonne-execution-du-budget-du-cameroun-au-premier-trimestre-2012/

translation from french with google translate

Trade: Cameroon, Tunisia, Egypt seek better ties




Trade Minister on June 26 defended a bill to ratify agreements between the three countries.

Egypt and Tunisia are potential markets for some products for which Cameroon has a comparative advantage. Some of the products include fruits, cocoa, coffee, tea, wood, and vegetable oil. But trade between the countries is about to take a different dimension with processing coming into play.

Tunisia and Egypt each signed bilateral trade agreements with Cameroon in 1999 and 2000 respectively to boost trade and economic cooperation. They also intended to encourage and facilitate steady development and diversification of trade between business organisations and enterprises.

Cameroon’s Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Atangana yesterday, June 26 in a sitting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly presented and defended the bill to authorise the President of the Republic to ratify the trade agreement between the government of the Republic of Cameroon and that of the Arab Republic of Egypt, signed in Cairo on October 24, 2000. He also did same for the bill signed with the Republic of Tunisia in Tunis on August 5, 1999.

As per the two separate bills, developing relations with the concerned countries is one of the pillars of Cameroon’s external trade policy which seeks to diversify exports. The areas of cooperation under the agreements include business development and management, exchange of economic information, services, as well as exchange of expertise in the economic and trade domains.

Though cooperation exists between Cameroon and Egypt in the domain of technology transfer, the bill, when ratified, will enable Egypt to assist Cameroon to locally process agricultural products such as cotton and others.

The ratification of the bill, Luc Magloire Atangana pointed out, should go beyond the current framework of simple trade in goods and services, which is essentially limited to raw materials.

The judicious implementation of the agreement, he continued, could enable the country to take advantage of foreign expertise in food processing, trade in services or upgrading of companies, with a view of increased liberalisation of global trade.

The Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Amadou Ali, joined Foreign Affairs Committee members to listen to Trade Minister defend the bill.

©2012 SOPECAM

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/06/28/trade-cameroon-tunisia-egypt-seek-better-ties/

Mining permit delays Cameroon alumina project



YAOUNDE, July 6 (Reuters) – More than three years on and a $4.3 billion project to build a bauxite mining and alumina refinery in Cameroon is still waiting for a mining permit, a company executive said on Friday.

India’s Hindalco, Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) and Hydromine Inc announced plans for their Cameroon Alumina Ltd (CAL) joint venture in 2008.

The project plans to tap bauxite reserves at Minim-Martap and Ngaoundal deposits in the Adamawa region of northern Cameroon.

“The kick-off of our project is so far delayed because we don’t yet have a mining permit,” CAL Deputy General Manager Joel Sinquin, told Reuters in an interview.

“We are pushing negotiations with the government and our hope is to be granted the licence as soon as possible, maybe before the end of this year or early next year.”

CAL had aimed to produce 4.5 to 9 million tonnes of bauxite per year starting in late 2014. Sinquin said the company now expects to start building the refinery in 2015 and start commercial production in 2018.

The alumina refinery, with a capacity of 1.4 to 3 million tonnes, would be only Africa’s second alumina refinery. Rusal operates one in Guinea.

“We are planning an annual production of 1.5 million tonnes of alumina per annum, doubling the continent’s current lone producer in Guinea-Conakry which produces about 700,000 tonnes a year,” Sinquin said.

“That is at least the first two to three years, after which it will go up to 3 million tonnes per year,” Sinquin said.

Alumina is the raw material for the production of aluminium which is used in the manufacturing of vehicles, aircrafts, and domestic products.

“Once we obtain the mining licence, it will take two years of a detailed study at the site and three years after to construct the refinery before mining of the bauxite begins,” Sinquin said.

Sinquin said the government may be taking a longer time to go through the project’s feasibility study because of the size of the project, and may also be seeking guarantees to ensure that commercial production will indeed begin once the mining licence was granted.

Cameroonian authorities were not available for immediate comment.

However, the central African nation, though seeking to boost investments in its under-explored mineral resources, has made changes to its mining code, insisting that projects must show adequate finances before obtaining a permit.

Sinquin said funding the CAL’s alumina project was not an issue given the financial solidity of the companies involved in the joint venture.

According to the country’s mining laws, Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, must give the final approval for all mining projects.

By Tansa Musa / Reuters

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/06/mining-permit-delays-cameroon-alumina-project/

^^

This is so irritating, the government is taking more than 3 years to review a feasibility study on a project that should top priority!

Mining permit delays Cameroon alumina project



http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/06/mining-permit-delays-cameroon-alumina-project/

Cameroon: power to the neighboring



Cameroon wants to become a major exporter of electricity while the country is still struggling to meet its needs. However, the mission does not seem impossible.

Become a major exporter of electricity on the continent: the goal is distant - for the moment, production plants in Cameroon is not sufficient to meet domestic demand. But it seems increasingly remote, if Yaounde continues to work extra hard to complete the ongoing projects and find financing, public and private, for priority projects identified in its strategy paper for growth and employment (GESP) 2010 to 2020.

The overall cost of building the infrastructure of production and transmission of electricity is estimated at over 5,850 billion CFA francs (nearly $ 9 billion) over ten years, plus 663 billion CFA francs for the rural electrification program. But the dilapidated, saturation and lack of interconnections existing infrastructure holding back so much the start of the industrial policy and diversification initiated by the Government that he had no other choice.


His energy plan aims to balance the deficit of the country (40 GWh per year) to bring installed capacity to 5,000 MW by 2020 (against 1337 MW now) and meet the strong projected growth in household consumption and industrialists. The second objective, which has also leveraged a little more regional and international partners, is to export the surplus.

First customers

Cameroon has the second hydroelectric potential of the continent (after DR Congo), estimated at 20 GW. If only 6% of these resources are exploited, they already provide the bulk of its electricity (95%) and are the largest producer of Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), of which only 35 % of 40 million inhabitants have access to electricity. The needs of the sub-region is estimated at 13,000 MW per year and growing at the rate of economic growth.

Among the first customers in the running include the Chad, with an installed capacity of 245 MW and an access rate to electricity below 3%. But also Nigerian giant, which has only 3,000 MW of installed capacity (fifteen times less than South Africa, yet three times smaller). Cameroon wants thus enhance its potential to supply its neighbors.

The operator AES-Sonel (whose capital is owned 56% by the U.S. group AES and 44% by the Cameroonian) and investing heavily to increase its capacity, by upgrading the existing complex and diversifying production via the construction of thermal power plants. One option that has the advantage of maintaining production levels in case of weather, but also require investment projects and much lighter than the hydroelectric complex. In the race against time taken by the country, this is an important aspect.

Read on Jeuneafrique.com: Cameroon: Power to the neighbors |The economic and financial news from Africa


http://economie.jeuneafrique.com/images/stories/regions/ASS/Cameroun/info-centrales-elec.jpg




translation from french with google translate


http://economie.jeuneafrique.com/dossiers/468-le-cameroun-sort-de-ses-frontieres/11354-cameroun-mettre-les-voisins-sous-tension.html

:cheers2:

Cameroon case: on the starting line


The engine of CEMAC is recovering finally put on and, most conspicuously, the export development. Beyond the neighboring markets, their primary targets, the public and private companies take a stand in West Africa and the Maghreb. And already some prospect further.

Cameroon has a broad back, and critics have never spared. They blame this regional giant with more than 20 million people in desperate to see him one day create an economic boom in Central Africa. They criticize the catalog of broken promises from a country where the yards are too long remained unfinished. They regret the path of reform buried this debonair leader of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), was annoyed to see this locomotive corporate power promising to revel in the sweet soft of inertia. His national pride on edge, his quiet diplomacy, even hesitant, and his bad manners won him patronage does not admired by his neighbors. However, in the concert of fiercest critics, the voice of Cameroonians, often severe with respect to their own country, is often far more than other Africans.

Diagnosis

But now, despite this refrain, the country moves. For it to be known, would it still the leaders, who are the main targets of criticism overwhelming their country, go to the trouble to communicate. Because there was enough to reassure the skeptics. Starting with the experts of the mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mario Zamaróczy, which, of May 2 to 16, came to take the pulse of the champion in the morning and test its ability to leave the bench to launch, finally, in the race to develop by leading its neighbors in its wake.

Once will not hurt, although growth remains well below its potential and that some indicators are still concerned, the diagnosis is pretty good. He notes in particular that since 2009 the growth of the Cameroonian economy, accustomed to sudden, is regular. IMF revises its forecast even higher, with an expected growth rate to 4.7% in 2012 (instead of 4.1%) due to a rebound in oil production and exports, but also "an increase public investment in major infrastructure projects. " To "liberate the true growth potential of Cameroon, it is vital to reduce barriers [...] to rectify the continuing constraints in infrastructure, increasing the quality and efficiency of public expenditure and improving governance and business climate ", without forgetting" to accelerate regional integration, "says the first report issued at the end of the mission.

Integration

In this case, structural projects have come out of cardboard. They should show how the country turned to its neighbors. While regional integration (which passes through the facilitation of free movement of persons and property) is down in the CEMAC, in recent months, Cameroon and its sub-regional partners are advancing infrastructure projects, particularly in transport.

This is the case of rehabilitation of the Maroua-Mora-Kousseri-N'Djamena. Highly degraded, this axis is sensitive to Chad, a landlocked: there is a section of the corridor linking the capital to the port of Douala. President Idriss Deby came to discuss with his counterpart in Yaounde of Cameroon, Paul Biya, in December 2011. It also follows with interest the plan announced in mid-May by the French group Bolloré, shareholder of Cameroon Railways (Camrail), to extend the road to the famous railway Transcameroonian Ngaoundere (North) to N'Djamena .


Chad has oil and mineral resources, Cameroon opens its markets and its port communication channels for export. The example of the pipeline linking the two countries, operated by ExxonMobil, based on other projects. Cameroon exports to its neighbor as food products, provides the connection of their power systems and provides technical expertise. AES-Sonel and the National Electricity Company (SNE) and Chad have signed an agreement in December of training and exchange of technicians allowing Chad to be welcomed on several installations of AES-Sonel.

Another example of integration, on March 16, Idriss Deby in N'Djamena inaugurated the Chadian national network of optical fiber. Great opportunity for Camtel, which manages the network in Cameroon: the operator-owned signed in late December 2011, with the Society of transmission infrastructure of electronic communications by fiber optic cable Chad (Sitcom) and a commercial agreement interconnection technique terrestrial networks of optical fiber transmission, which becomes Camtel the technical operator.

Cameroon is also a little more open to neighboring Congo. The asphalting of the 650 km of road-Sangmelima Ouesso (including 340 km and 310 km Congo Cameroon), in progress, should facilitate the connection between southern Cameroon and northern Congo. This should also benefit from the creation of a line of railway from the iron mine Mbalam (East Cameroon) to complex industrial port of Kribi (south). By 2014, the deepwater port will accommodate vessels with a draft of water 15 to 16 m and a capacity of up to 100,000 tons.

Finally, among the other major regional integration projects, Yaounde campaigns for the realization of a transport corridor and development between Kribi (Cameroon), Bangui (CAR) and Kisangani (DR Congo), which provides for straps to Guinea Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo.

Offensive

If he leaves the service and to conquer the African market, Cameroon is also a little more open to foreign companies. This is true in all sectors, from energy to materials and construction, through the food and service. Thus the offensive African banks, more and more likely to settle. The group Gabon BGFI Bank obtained approval in 2010 of the Banking Commission of Central Africa (COBAC) to gain a foothold in Douala and launched its operations in March 2011, in a market where other players like Continental Attijariwafa Bank, Atlantic Bank, Ecobank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) already collect public savings. Open borders and the countries are large. The exception will no longer Cameroon.

Read on Jeuneafrique.com: Folder Cameroon: on the starting line | Young Africa Economy | The economic and financial news from Africa





translation from french with google translate


http://economie.jeuneafrique.com/dossiers/468-le-cameroun-sort-de-ses-frontieres/11332-cameroun-sur-la-ligne-de-depart.html

:cheers2:

Cameroun second largest HydroElectric potential after DRC? I thought Ethiopia was.

Me too.

In any case, Im very impressed with what is going on in Cameroon right now.

Yeh, really weird how they suddenly starting to get projects , important projects (Roads, Rail, Power),

Yeh, really weird how they suddenly starting to get projects , important projects (Roads, Rail, Power),

Because we have initiated a phase of economic recovery after years under structural adjustment plan that has been imposed by the Bretton-Woods institutions following the economic crisis that hit our country since the 80 !

The majority of these projects were in the drawers and could not be implemented due to lack of funding and the weight of a heavy foreign debt. But in 2006, Cameroon reached the completion point under the HIPC initiative and received the surrender of much of its debt.

Today we can look to the future although there have yet many things to do

Douala-Yaounde highway: The European Union is contesting the choice of China



The Delegation of the European Union in Cameroon believes that adequate preparation on the technical, legal and financial, necessary for the success of such projects, has not been made. Which could affect the performance of the project.

The statement released by the European Union July 6, 2012 is almost a boast to diplomatic formulas. He is not fooling anyone anyway. Europeans are frustrated, ultimately, dissatisfied, Cameroon has finally chosen on the Chinese as the main partners for the construction of the Yaounde-Douala highway.

In his epistolary output, signaling his disappointment, the Delegation of the European Union (eu) in Cameroon also considers that the "rumors" distilled by the press are unfounded. Because, since last April, the media in Cameroon revealed that the proposed construction of this highway was torpedoed at the Presidency of the Republic by public figures who supported the Europeans' rather than others.

The EU recognizes that following a request from the Cameroonian government, she had responded favorably to a request for 2011 funding of the "feasibility study" of the highway in question.

The Europeans had suggested that a "subsidy" of Shs 1.64 billion for a pre-feasibility and feasibility, which also included the preparation of a tender within two years, in order to support Cameroon in "an informed choice, consistent and relevant" to the implementation of an optimal solution interconnecting motorway.

At the same time, reassured the Chinese that the laying of the cornerstone of this work could be done in December 2012.

Reading between the lines, it is understandable that the choice of China by Cameroon is considered by the European side as hazardous. Since Ue believes that the country of Paul Biya has not sufficiently matured the project.

The Ue believes that the preliminary studies required for the optimization of such projects have not been made. "In general, whatever the choice of funding, all funding must be preceded by studies that allow a reliable and optimized total cost of the project.

A complex and extensive as the highway construction presupposes adequate preparation of the technical, legal and financial, necessary for its success, "we read in the press delegation of the eu in Cameroon .

Thus, Cameroon would have rushed by the choice of China.

Hence the risk of this project never be realized, or at least, not be performed as needed. However, China seems committed to support Cameroon in this great project-as in many others elsewhere, and this has materialized on June 27. The two countries signed an agreement in effect on the financing to the tune of 241.1 billion CFA francs.

Funds made available by Exim bank of China. An agreement which had also been long overdue, since it is in March that China had finally agreed to this line of credit. And work will be conducted by the Chinese company China first highway engineering.

One might therefore understand the anger (or at least disappointment) of Europeans who would "market" escapes. Hence the output considered by many observers of this issue as a symbolic gesture. In all cases, the authorities in Cameroon have made a choice: China.

Hoping it will not be detrimental to the project. As for the Delegation of the European Union, it is now clear: "The Cameroonian authorities have finally chosen a different approach," she wrote in a statement, before concluding, "the Delegation of the European Union Cameroon fully respect this decision and wish for the success of this important project, convinced that the authorities have at heart to continue efforts to promote the emergence of a favorable investment climate. "

The Messenger via Cameroonvoice

translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/11/autoroute-douala-yaounde-lunion-europeenne-conteste-le-choix-de-la-chine/

MIGA issues $6.5m guarantee for internet project in Cameroon




The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has issued guarantees of $6.5 million for a project which will establish a wireless network to deliver internet broadband services in three major cities in Cameroon.

MIGA granted the investments for the subsidiary of 4G Africa AG of Switzerland, HTT Telecom S.A. in Cameroon, which will execute the project.

“The coverage is for a period of up to 10 years against the risks of transfer restriction, expropriation, and war and civil disturbance,” said MIGA.

The project is expected to improve broadband internet provision in Cameroon’s main cities – Douala, Yaoundé, and Edéa and will lower internet tariffs as well as increase service reliability and availability in that country.

Ghana Business News

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/11/miga-issues-6-5m-guarantee-for-internet-project-in-cameroon/

The Lagdo dam will be renovated



The MOU was signed there on last Friday in Yaounde.

There are twenty years (1978-1984), the International Water and Chineese Electric Corporation (CWE) built the hydroelectric dam Lagdo, about fifty kilometers from Garoua, northern regional capital.

Today, the infrastructure has grown older and requires refurbishment. The government has decided to again trust this company. A memorandum of understanding business thereof was signed last Friday by Basile Atangana Kouna, Minister of Water and Energy, and Huiwen Jiang, CEO of CWE.
Basically, it comes to the recovery of energy resources of the basin of the Benue.

Specifically, he is the refurbishment of the dam Lagdo and preliminary design study for the development of a similar work on the river Faro, always in the northern part.

According to Basile Atangana Kouna, this project falls in line with the policy of absorption of energy deficit, instructed by the President of the Republic. "We hope the funds are rapidly mobilized to the project to be realized as soon as possible," he said. The ambition is also to export the energy produced in Cameroon to neighboring countries.

If cost is not yet decided, "because the financial evaluation is in progress", explains the Minister, the Chinese ensure that turnaround times will be respected. "The work will be delivered in the very near future, according to the schedule annexed to the MOU," said Jiang Huiwen.

The Lagdo dam, built on the Benue and consists of four turbines with an installed capacity of 72 megawatts, supplies electricity not only in northern Cameroon but also a part of the South. The dam is 297 m long, 40 m high, 9 m thick and was inaugurated on 29 November 1986 by President Paul Biya.

The perimeter of the river basin was declared agricultural area. It allows the irrigation of 15,000 ha of various crops (millet, rice, corn, vegetables, etc..). This is also the site of intense fishing activity.

translation from french with google translate

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/09/le-barrage-de-lagdo-sera-renove/

Real Madrid open football academy in Cameroon



The Real Madrid Foundation will be launching its Madrid Rumbo al Sur project in Cameroon this week, which consists of inaugurating and equipping a football academy in the country

Real Madrid

A team from the Real Madrid Foundation will be sojourning in Cameroon this week to round off a football academy project by providing educational and sports material for children in the country.

The seventh edition of the Madrid Rumbo al Sur project was presented on June 29 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, announcing that the Real Madrid Foundation will donate sports and educational material for students in its Cameroon academy, which is near completion.

Officials said the main objective of the project was to educate and instill values such as cooperation for development, voluntary work and sensitivity.

More than 100 children from Madrid will travel to Cameroon to learn about over a dozen collaboration initiatives in the country, the foundation said in a statement.

Classes will open early September at the football academy, officials of Cameroon sports ministry have confirmed.

“This project’s values are the same as those of the Real Madrid Foundation, which educate children aged between six and 18. Participating in this initiative fills us with great satisfaction,” Enrique Sanchez, executive vice president of the Real Madrid Foundation said in a statement on the club’s official website.

“The children that will go to Cameroon will experience values such as compromise and solidarity, which we stand by at our foundation,” said Miguel Pardeza, Real Madrid football director.

“They will also visit the academy in the city of Yaounde, where we will try to educate children in dire straits. This is why the collaboration of these children from Madrid is so important to this project,” he added.

Goal.com

http://www.cameroononline.org/2012/07/11/real-madrid-open-football-academy-in-cameroon/

Management of C2D: Côte d'Ivoire comes to learn in Cameroon



(Invest in Cameroon) - Ivory Coast wants to know more about the management system set up by Cameroon as part of debt reduction and management of the Contract (C2D). An Ivorian government delegation led by Leah Frances Djatti Amoin, Special Advisor to the Ivorian Prime Minister stays in Cameroon from 5 to 13 July 2012. Ivorians are to learn and see how Cameroon has negotiated and executed projects C2D, a program signed between Cameroon and France in 2006 after reaching the completion point under the HIPC initiative.

"Cameroon has received funding from the C2D in recent years in the areas of infrastructure, education and health. We are here to find out what worked and what did not work, to profit by the example of Cameroon. Because we will have the same program, "said Frances Lea Djatti Amoin Friday to the press.

Indeed, Cote d'Ivoire reached the completion point of the initiative "Heavily Indebted Poor Countries" (HIPC) in the economic and financial program 2012-2014. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced June 26, 2012. The country will receive debt relief of over $ 4.4 billion.

"The IMF and the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank approved a reduction of 3.1 billion U.S. dollars (1.55 trillion CFA francs) debt of Côte d'Ivoire under the the HIPC initiative, which represents a 24% reduction of external debt, more relief $ 1.3 billion Eu (750 billion CFA francs) in respect of relief initiative Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), "the statement said the World Bank.

Last Friday, his delegation met with ministers of Cameroon in charge of Finance and of Economy. She will also visit the sites of projects funded and accomplishments C2D. During the visit the delegation will be imbued with the contours of the discussions with France. And this is the technical secretariat of C2D in Cameroon to be their guide.

In Cameroon, the first C2D a total of 352 billion CFA francs signed June 22, 2006 ended April 27, 2011. It involved four components: Education (59 billion CFA francs), Health and the fight against AIDS (59 billion CFA francs), Road Infrastructure (150 billion CFA francs) and Agriculture and Food Security, including NPPD and FESP (61 billion FCFA). Some cross-cutting sectors have also benefited from funding from the C2D in 2008. It is the Department of Scientific and Technical Research and the Ministry of Culture.

The second C2D for 2011-2016, which represents about 213 billion CFA francs will focus on agriculture and rural development, urban development and infrastructure, professional training and finally the pilot projects and studies.

According to Justine Dongmo, the coordinator of the Technical Secretariat of C2D in Cameroon, "30 June 2012, the implementation of the second C2D runs without major problems." But, it was suggested that if the projects to be funded are in principle chosen by the beneficiary countries themselves C2D, discussions with the French side to validate a project may be hard.

BOD

translation from french with google translate

http://www.investiraucameroun.com/aide-au-developpement/0807-3482-gestion-du-c2d-la-cote-d-ivoire-vient-apprendre-au-cameroun

Yeh, really weird how they suddenly starting to get projects , important projects (Roads, Rail, Power),

It is bizarre. Maybe the President is actually a cloned robot and the real is being kept prisoner somewhere.

Cameroon could really be one of the most amazing countries in Africa- they have some of the best beaches outside of East Africa, rainforest, savannah, mountains, semi-desert, wildlife, oil, solid minerals, varying climatic zones (they can grow temperate crops in the Highlands) AND English-French speakers.

It is bizarre. Maybe the President is actually a cloned robot and the real is being kept prisoner somewhere.

Cameroon could really be one of the most amazing countries in Africa- they have some of the best beaches outside of East Africa, rainforest, savannah, mountains, semi-desert, wildlife, oil, solid minerals, varying climatic zones (they can grow temperate crops in the Highlands) AND English-French speakers.


:lol: ah ah ah....!!!!!

How about some pictures??