On March 2, 2018, the largest vessel to ever berth at a port in Cameroon was accosted in Kribi. This was during the official commissioning of Kribi deepwater port which is considered the largest port infrastructure along the West African coast with a 15-16 meters draught.  

For the commissioning of this port whose container terminal is 350 meters long, the French ship-owner, CMA CGM, chartered CMA CGM Bianca, a 335- meter long vessel which shipped a record number of 8,500 containers.  

This consecrates the operationalization of the container terminal of Kribi port, which has not been commissioned since the first phase of the construction was completed 2 years ago. Officially, the commissioning was late because of administrative delays.

After the commissioning of this terminal (operated by the Franco-Chinese consortium Bolloré-CHEC-CMA CGM), Cameroon should quickly select a concessionaire for the multipurpose terminal. Indeed, there has been no new operator for this terminal since NECOTRANS (concessionaire of the port since August 2015 with KPMO- Kribi Port Multi Operators which is a consortium of nine local operators) was found defaulting.

For the record, Kribi deepwater port was built by China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC). It cost about CFA250 billion, 85% of which was provided by China through Eximbank China.  

Brice R. Mbodiam

On March 1, 2018, in Kousséri, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, the minister of public works launched the resumption of the construction of the more than 200 kilometers long Mora-Dabanga-Kousséri.

The works which started with the construction of Mora-Dabanga was interrupted on May 16, 2014, following an assault on the base camp of Sinohydro which was in charge of the works.

During the attacks, 10 Chinese employees of the company were kidnapped. They were however released after tough negotiations conducted by Cameroon.

This time, for security purposes, government has commissioned the military engineering unit to conduct the works, this after the World Bank authorized the construction. They will deliver the works in 24 months.  

Mora-Dabanga-Kousséri road, which World Bank supported with CFA70 billion, is a key infrastructure in the commercial exchanges between Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad.

It is the main transit axis for goods from Borno, Nigeria, to the Far-North region of Cameroon and to Ndjamena, the Chadian capital, sources close to the project revealed.

Moreover, it is a section of Douala-Ndjamena corridor on which about CFA340 billion Chadian goods transit, according to figures from Cameroon’s customs dating back to 2013.

Brice R. Mbodiam

The 800 social housing being built by government should be completed this year. This is one of the positive news announced during the cabinet council held on March 1, 2018, presided by Philemon Yang.

During the council, Jean-Claude Mbwentchou, the minister of housing announced that the study phase has been completed in every region taken into account in the project, and works have started. He also revealed that presently, the works were 92% completed in Ebolowa and at the seven remaining sites it is completed at 35% on average. There are however some challenges such as some sites’ morphology and the security climate in the Northern region, that affect the seamless execution of works.

For the record, this project is the housing facets of the 3-year urgency plan (Plan d’urgence triennal -Planut) launched by Cameroon a little more than two years ago. In the framework of this project, social housings will be built in 8 regional capitals (100 in each capital) except in Douala and Yaoundé. A little more than CFA40 billion is set for this project.

S.A 

On February 22, 2018, Louis Paul Motaze, the economy minister presided over the ceremony for the presentation and validation of Manoka’s economic and social development strategy.  

During the ceremony, the minister indicated that 50 projects, among which an ice production unit and a cold chamber, are necessary to boost the area’s development.

He also revealed that the ice production unit and the cold chamber are essential to preserve the fishery products and reduce losses which is estimated at 60% because there is no storage facility.

In that regard, Louis Paul Motaze signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of the ice producing unit. The government will then disburse CFA780 million for its construction.

During the same ceremony, local authorities explained that due to its geophysical specificities, their locality has been facing numerous challenges. These challenges such as the reduction of living spaces and destruction of public constructions (due to marine erosion), the intensive and uncontrolled exploitation of the mangrove for fish smoking, the high number of foreigners in the fishing activities (60% of the fishers are foreigners) have been hindering the locality’s development.   

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Since February 2018, Raubex group has been working at the site of “Douala Grand Mall & Business Park”, a large 18,000 m² commercial center whose construction is funded by Actis, official sources reveal. 

The sources did not reveal the amount of this contract awarded to the South African company specialized in the development of infrastructures. It should however be reminded that the commercial center would cost about CFA80 billion, according to estimates. 

According to the sponsors, during the first phase, a multiplex of five cinemas, a supermarket and shops will be built at “Douala Grand Mall & Business Park”. During the second phase, a 5-star hotel and an office park will also be built. 

BRM

The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) will build a headquarters for the national directorate in Cameroon. This was revealed by a statement which announced DMH as the group chosen to conduct the topographical survey of the site on which this headquarters will be built.

The contract with DMH follows a national competitive bidding launched by the bank on August 17, 2017. However, the amount of this contract has not yet been disclosed.

Let’s note that so far, BEAC’s national directorate in Cameroon shares the same building with the local representation of IMF in Yaoundé downtown, near the office of the prime minister.  

BRM

On February 12, 2018, the British investment fund Actis announced that the construction of Douala Grand Mall & Business Park has started. This mall is Cameroon’s first regional commercial and entertainment center and is located in Douala.  

With the support of Craft Development, Actis’ local partner, a multiplex of five cinemas, a supermarket and stores will be built on an 18,000-square meter area in the framework of this construction project.

The investment fund explained that this was the first phase of a global project which includes the construction of a five-star hotel and an office park for CFA80 billion, according to estimates.  

This project benefits from the tax and customs exemption prescribed by the law of April 2013 which encourages private investments in Cameroon. This law grants exemptions from 5 up to 10 years to companies in their installation or operational phase.

 “Douala Grand Mall & Business park is a reference project which will provide the vibrant city of Douala with one of its largest “mixed-use” development, built to international standards, and more than 4,500 jobs created during the two consecutive construction and operation phases”, said Mathurin Jidjouc Kamdem, CEO of Craft Development.

With this new investment, Actis is diversifying its portfolio in Cameroon, after it bought back the shares of AES in ENEO some years ago.

Brice R. Mbodiam 

On February 8, 2018, Kribi autonomous port launched an international call for expression of interest to select a cabinet which will monitor technical works during the 2nd phase of construction works of the port.

Till March 23, 2018, at 12 PM GMT, the firms or groups interested can send their offers to the office of the port’s managing director.  

The selected firm will have to “access and provide technical opinion on the records generated by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), so as to be a guide to the project owner’s decisions”.

During this phase, Cameroon plans to build a second container terminal with a 700- meter dock (while the first one was 350 meters long), an iron ore as well as oil terminals.

The second container terminal will be built by the Chinese firm CHEC, thanks to the financial support of Eximbank China. The iron ore terminal will be built by the consortium exploiting Mbalam iron deposit (Sundance Resources and its partners). Finally, the oil terminal will be built by the consortium which will produce liquefied gas at Kribi offshore (SNH, Perenco).

BRM

The Cameroonian ministry for urban development and housing is finalizing a digital application which will allow the request, processing, and issuance of building licenses online. This was announced during a seminary held in Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital.

According to the Tunisian experts in charge of the project in which Cameroon invested CFA300 million, the application will be operational in January 2018, in Douala.

This innovation will help reduce delays recorded when issuing the license which is asked every person that wants to build a house. Indeed, these applicants may have to wait years before obtaining the document. In the meantime, they suffer disturbances from agents of the town hall who visit construction sites daily.

BRM

The development of the canal on Mfoundi’s stream, which floods Yaoundé during rainy seasons, should be completed in 2018 at the latest, according to the Yaoundé Urban Community (Communauté urbaine de Yaoundé-CUY). The latter during a check-up mission this September declared that the project comprises two phases.

The first part is about the construction works downstream Mfoundi from SCDP to Nsam. The works started in December 2015 and, they were led by Razel, a French company. According to CUY, the French company is ahead of schedule with a 74% progress rate.

The second part located upstream, from the main post office to the railway station, is being built by Anshui Shuian, a Chinese company. CUY explained that the Chinese company is lagging behind schedule. This, mainly related to the shifting of water, light and telecommunication networks; not to mention the bothersome rain. 

Works completion on the second site is estimated at 60%. Mfoundi’s canal is 5km-long and its estimated cost is CFA47.9 billion.

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