Swiss construction company Sika officially inaugurated last December 1 its production plant in Douala, the Cameroonian economic capital. The plant generated 19,700 tons of products, during this year.

Next year, the equity-funded facility valued at more than CFA1 billion, will see its capacity improved to 29,700 tons; this with the announced entry into production of a mortar production unit, managers said.

“We believe that it’s important to be very close to our customers to better understand and satisfy their needs. Cameroon is very interesting and offers so much potential with infrastructure such as dams, bridges, ports or residential projects including shopping stores and buildings,”  said Ivo Schadler, Sika's manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

According to the latter, Sika Group achieved “a record result in 2018, with a turnover of around 7 billion Swiss francs and now holds more than 100 subsidiaries all over the world”.

As a reminder, the company officially announced the opening of its two new branches in Cameroon and Djibouti on August 23, 2016. Thanks to its implementation in Cameroon, Sika contributes to “various construction projects of stadiums and accommodation structures, concrete plants and resin floors in several factories [...]”, said Pedro Lopes, Sika Cameroon's MD.

Let’s mention that Sika group specializes in markets such as concrete, waterproofing, roofing, flooring, sealing and bonding, refurbishment and industry.

Brice R. Mbodiam

In its year-end review submitted to Parliament, Jean Claude Mbwentchou, Cameroonian Minister of Housing (Minhdu), reported that the government has worked to complete 2,400 housing units during 2018.

Without being exhaustive, Mr. Mbwentchou noted a “significant” progress in the implementation of a pilot construction project for 1,675 social housing, in Yaoundé on the Olembé site and in Douala on the Mbanga-Bakoko site, with 700 housing units being completed. The remaining 975, which are 75% completed are expected to be finished by the end of the first half of 2019 at the latest, subject to the availability of financial resources.

The minister also welcomed the completion and delivery of the 100 housing units built in the city of Ebolowa as part of the three-year Emergency Plan to Accelerate Economic Growth (Planut).

In addition, works are 30% completed in Bamenda and 60% on average in other cities outside Yaoundé and Douala. Two buildings of 80 housing both were completed, under the project to build 640 housing on the Olembé site in Yaoundé by the Cameroonian-Swiss firm Coffor Cemac S.A.

Mr. Mbwentchou announced the ongoing preliminary studies in Mbankomo, a suburb of Yaoundé, for the construction of 1000 housing units, the pilot phase of the project to construct 10,000 housing, with the support of the Italian firm Pizzaroti.

Sylvain Andzongo

This year, the Cameroonian government pulled efforts to develop and upgrade the national road network, the ministry of public works (Mintp) featured in the year-end review submitted to parliament.

“In the Public Works sector, significant efforts have been made. Many projects have seen the construction of 317.6 km of new asphalt roads and 144 linear meters of bridges,” Mintp said, stressing that through the adoption of an adequate regulatory framework, several works have been carried out by local workers in order to compensate for traffic disruptions.

The ministry said the linear density of Cameroon’s asphalt network is developing at a significant rate increasing from 5,240 km to 6,760 km of asphalted road between 2010 and 2016. The government is targeting 9,558 km by 2020. Structuring axes currently under construction cover over 2,883 km of national and municipal roads.

S.A

Cameroonian treasury is finally collecting CFA200 billion, instead of the CFA150 billion requested through the 5^th bond issue launched on the Douala Stock Exchange (DSX) for the 2018-23 period, we learnt.

This followed an approval given on November 14 by Jean Claude Ngbwa, head of the financial markets commission (CMF) after the government submitted an over allotment request.

The additional CFA50 billion are expected to finance 8 other projects. In detail, CFA24 billion will be injected in the construction of the 420-MW Nachtigal dam (international lenders have granted CFA800 billion for this project), while CFA5 billion will go for projects of the national electricity transport company (Sonatrel). Another CFA5 billion will be pumped into the construction of the Yaoundé-Douala highway and the Yaoundé-Nsimalen road project will receive CFA4 billion. The Bonépouga-Yabassi road project in the Coastal region will capture CFA2.9 billion, and the second road of the Wouri bridge will receive CFA3.1 billion. CFA2 million will be disbursed to asphalt the Nkolessong-Nding road. Finally CFA3.9 billion will be allocated to the project to open up the country’s agricultural production areas.

Let’s recall that this 5^th bond issue has a 5.6% interest rate with a 5-year maturity period.

Brice R. Mbodiam

Cameroon, represented by Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, signed November 13 three agreements with the European Union (EU) in Yaoundé to finance the Program for the Economic and Social Development of Secondary Cities at Risk of Instability (Prodesv).

As part of this program, EU is giving the country €20 million (CFA13.12 billion) through KfW bank. The 6-year Prodesv is part of the National Indicative Program (PIN) of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) for Cameroon.

Focus towns include welcome-areas for refugees, internally displaced persons and other migrants: the South (Campo, Mintom), the East (Kentzou, Kette, Bétaré-Oya, Garoua - Boulaï), Adamaoua (Djohong, Meiganga, Ngaoui), the North (Baschéo, Madingring, Touboro) and the Far North (Mogodé, Mozogo, Kai-Kai).

According to the minister, this scheme aims, among other things, to prevent the risk of social conflicts due to pressure on available resources and the cohabitation of indigenous and migrant populations.

In that regard, public infrastructure promoting socio-economic development of these secondary cities will be built, operated, sustainably maintained and used by the populations of host communities and migrants. This will help create various jobs and local entrepreneurial opportunities.

S.A

In preparation for the next African Cup of Nations (AFCON) which Cameroon is to host between June and July 2019, the African football confederation (CAF) started conducting an inspection mission in Cameroon since November 11. The delegation led by CAF's Deputy Secretary General for Sports and Development, Ghanaian Antony Baffoe, visited the Olembe facility, suburb of Yaoundé. Main inspection points include the lawn, changing rooms, car parks, the presidential stand, as well as the seats and roof at the stadium.

During the inspection, the managers of the Italian company Piccini in charge of building works showed the green carpet that will be laid on the playground. According to Piccini managers, it only takes 45 days for the lawn to be equipped, including goalkeeper posts. As for the seats and roof, installation has already began and is continuing normally. The stadium's delivery dates in December 2018 should be respected, the company said. The two additional training grounds 1 and 2 of the Olembe stadium were also visited. Work is progressing at a “normal” pace. The same goes for the Beac stadium.

With regard to the changing rooms and the presidential stand, Piccini indicated that all that remains is the parts’ assembly phase. Car parks, of more than 12,000 spaces, are already equipped. After Yaoundé, Garoua will be visited today November 12. Then the CAF inspectors will visit Bafoussam and Douala, respectively November 13 and 14. The mission ends on 15 November 2018.  

S.A

Cameroonian finance minister, Louis Paul Motazé, signed November 8 in Paris, France, agreements for the financing of the 420-MW Nachtigal dam in Cameroon’s central region.

According to the government, 15 international lenders led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which is the World Bank’s private investment arm, alongside a consortium formed by local branches of Standard Chartered Bank, Société Générale, Attijariwafa Bank and BPCE group will help mobilize an amount of CFA786 billion to build the country's largest hydroelectric dam.

Works are expected to start December 2018 and last 57 months. Besix Group, a Belgian constructor, to whom construction is entrusted, announced it will complete the facility in partnership with French NGE (Nouvelles générations d’entrepreneurs, leader in grading work in France) and Société générale des travaux du Maroc (SGTM).

Built on the Sanaga River which houses 75% of the country’s overall hydropower potential, the Nachtigal dam will increase Cameroon’s power capacity by 30%. Let’s mention that the project is carried out by Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC), owned 40% by Electricité de France (EDF), 30% by Cameroonian government and 30% by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). According to an agreement with the State, NHPC will operate the dam for 35 years when it is completed.

“The Nachtigal project, one of the very few public-private partnership (PPP) agreements in hydropower in sub-Saharan Africa, will help Cameroon speed up target achievements, inclding poverty reduction,” said Elisabeth Huybens, World Bank’s operation manager for Cameroon.

Brice R. Mbodiam

Cameroonian government erected new health facilities in the districts of Minkoa Meyos and Obili, in Yaoundé. Valued at CFA955.4 million, land cost excluded, the construction of these centers aligns with the health system development policy initiated by the government, the minister of public health, André Mama Fouda, said.

Facilities were funded up to CFA955 million by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). “These health facilities are designed to provide people with access to good quality basic health care. Beneficiaries include students and surrounding populations. Services offered cover prenatal consultations, general medicine, childbirth, vaccination and minor surgery,” the official said.

These new hospitals in the heart of Yaoundé are composed of a main building (single story) for care, an accommodation for the Chief Medical Officer and two others for his assistants. Are also built, a 50 m3 water tower, an incinerator shelter, a shelter for a 50 KVA generator and a security fence.

S.A

On 27 October 2018, the Cameroonian military engineering restarted construction work on the Mora-Dabanga-Kousseri road in the Far North.

Resumed in March, after 4 years of suspension, due to the insecurity created by Boko Haram which had kidnapped employees on the site, work was recently interrupted once again due to heavy rain.

Let’s mention that this 205-km road is the very first contract in history to have been awarded to a specialized unit of an army, with the approval of the World Bank.

The latter invested about CFA70 billion in the project which is a strategic infrastructure for trade between Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad.

BRM 

Nigerian industrial giant Dangote says it sold 0.9 million tons of cement over the first nine months this year, roughly the same volume the same period in 2017.

Compared to the first quarter of 2018, sales grew slightly by 0.3 million tons as the group reported 0.6 million tons of cement sold in Q1.

According to Dangote group, good performance is motivated by the brand strength, improved sales and marketing strategies and processes, greater visibility through trade shows, sponsorship and advertising, improved relations with key distributors and better analysis of customer needs.

It estimates the country’s total cement market at nearly 2.3 million tons at the end of September 2018, up about 8.6% compared to the same period in 2017.

Let’s mention that market growth is mainly driven by the construction sector, infrastructure projects such as roads, dams, sports stadiums, hotels and hospitals in preparation for the African Cup of Nations, scheduled for June-July 2019 in Cameroon.

Sylvain Andzongo