Cameroon

In 2024, Cameroon was the world’s 12th-ranked producer of pumice (pozzolan), accounting for 1.8% of global production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included aluminum, cement, clay, construction aggregates (stone, sand, and gravel), diamond, and gold. Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). Nonfuel mineral production remained a small part of Cameroon’s economy in 2024, representing about 0.2% (estimated) of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Between 2019 and 2024, several international companies signed mining agreements with the Government for the mining of bauxite, gold, iron ore, and marble. Specific timelines for commencing operations are defined in the individual mining conventions, which are negotiated agreements between the company and the state, and can differ from the general provisions of the mining code (Crangle, 2026; Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, 2025, p. 21, 22, 75, 76, 118–121; Institut National De La Statistique, 2025, p. 15; Ministry of Mines, Industry, and Technological Development, 2025, p. 9, 10).

The mineral resources of Cameroon are owned by the Government. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Cameroon is provided by the Mining Code of 19 December 2023, through law No. 2023/014, which replaced law No. 2016/017 of 14 December 2016. In 2024, the Government of Cameroon enacted a comprehensive suite of implementation Decrees—Nos. 2024/05061/PM, 2024/05062/PM, and 2024/05248/PM to 2024/05253/PM—to establish regulatory frameworks for mining title issuance, operational obligations, protected zones, quarrying methods, mineral processing, marketing and export procedures, and the exploitation of water and geothermal resources. The Ministère des Mines, de l’Industrie et du Développement Technologique (MINMIDT) [Ministry of Mines, Industry, and Technological Development] is responsible for overseeing the activities of the mineral sector per Decree No. 2012/432. The MINMIDT develops and implements the Government’s mining and industrial policies. Diamond, gold, and sapphire were produced by artisanal miners and small-scale mining operations. Most other mineral commodities were primarily produced by foreign private companies and (or) Government-owned companies or enterprises. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. More-extensive coverage of the mineral industry of Cameroon can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—Africa and the Middle East, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/africa-and-middle-east (Republique du Cameroun, 2023; Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, 2025, p. 36, 48, 49).  

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)