CRRC Secures Another Major Order! Key Mineral Project in Africa: The Logistics Milestone for Cameroon’s Minim Martap Bauxite Mine Project Approaches, with Locomotive Deliveries
¬ Seven locomotives manufactured by CRRC Group are expected to arrive at Douala Port, destined for the Minim Martap Bauxite Mine Project
¬ Camalco (Cameroonian Aluminum Company) and Camrail (Cameroon Railways) have raised 176.8 billion CFA francs (approximately USD 316.6 million) for railway equipment procurement
¬ The project aims to produce 10 million tons of bauxite annually
With seven locomotives manufactured by CRRC Group expected to arrive at Douala Port and be delivered to Camalco—the Cameroonian subsidiary of Australian mining company Canyon Resources—the Minim Martap Bauxite Mine Project in Cameroon is moving closer to operational launch.
The Minim Martap deposit is located in the Adamawa Region of Cameroon.
China COSCO Shipping Group announced that it has recently transported 12 locomotives to Africa. Of these, seven will be delivered to Cameroon to support the construction of the future mine’s railway system.
In addition, this delivery forms part of a larger contract between Camalco and CRRC for the purchase of 22 diesel locomotives.
The two companies aim to ensure a smooth mineral transport chain, as the project is designed to produce 10 million tons of bauxite per year.
This development carries significant financial and operational implications.
Working together, Camalco and Camrail have raised 176.8 billion CFA francs (approximately USD 316.6 million) for railway equipment procurement, with a planned total investment of 252.6 billion CFA francs.
Thus, a substantial portion of logistics funding has already been committed prior to the full-scale export operations beginning.
Besides locomotives, this transportation plan also relies on 560 open-top freight cars ordered from Indian manufacturer Texmaco Rail & Engineering Limited.
The contract includes an option to purchase an additional 1,040 wagons within the next five years, indicating that the project developers are already preparing for large-scale rail capacity operations.
Additionally, Canyon Resources must finance the connection of the mine to Cameroon’s national railway network and urgently repair several critical sections of existing rail infrastructure to ensure ore can be transported to Douala Port.
With the anticipated delivery of the first batch of locomotives, following earlier financing announcements and industrial contracts, the Minim Martap project is now showing clearer signs of progress—marking a crucial step forward toward future exports.
Source: ecofinagency
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865210765976842/
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