Chinese Investors Unveil CFA45.2 Billion Zircon Project In East Cameroon

Chinese investors from the firm Hongji SA have presented a CFA45.2 billion zircon mining and processing project for Cameroon's East Region, according to the country's Investment Promotion Agency (IPA). The project is expected to create about 500 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs.

The proposal centers on the extraction, processing and first transformation of zircon within Cameroon before the mineral is exported to international markets. It was presented during a meeting between the IPA's Acting Director General and a delegation from Hongji SA.

Zircon is a mineral used mainly in ceramics, refractory materials and as a source of zirconium, a metal valued in nuclear reactors, chemical processing equipment and specialty alloys for its resistance to corrosion and heat.

According to the IPA, the project will roll out in two phases following the identification of zircon deposits in the East Region. The first phase covers mining operations, while the second involves processing and initial transformation of the mineral before shipment abroad.

The investors are already in discussions with Cameroon's Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development (MINMIDT) and the National Mining Corporation (SONAMINES) to secure the authorizations needed before mining activities can begin.

IPA officials said the project reflects growing interest from international investors in Cameroon's mining sector, describing it as evidence of the country's mineral potential and its ongoing push toward resource transformation and industrial development within its borders.

The promoters are expected to work closely with the IPA throughout implementation, particularly on establishing processing facilities and navigating the investment procedures required to move the project from proposal to construction.

Chinese investment in Cameroon's resource sector has grown steadily in recent years, spanning mining, infrastructure and industrial projects, part of a broader pattern of Chinese capital flowing into extractive industries across Central Africa.

Cameroon has been working to attract processing and transformation projects rather than raw mineral exports alone, a strategy aimed at capturing more value domestically before minerals leave the country. The Hongji SA proposal, with its planned in-country processing phase, aligns with that stated policy direction.

No timeline has yet been given for when the required permits might be issued or when construction could begin, and the project remains subject to the outcome of ongoing discussions with mining and industry authorities.