A landmark agreement is set to breathe new life into the Edéa–Kribi–Lolabé–Campo railway corridor in Yaoundé today. The Memorandum of Understanding, to be signed at the Starland Hotel, brings together Cameroon’s government, Africa Global Logistics (AGL) and Camalco—Canyon Resources’ local subsidiary. The ceremony, led by Transport Minister Jean Ernest Massena Ngallè Bibehe, signals a strategic pivot in the country’s rail and port infrastructure ambitions.

rail, ports and mines: a logistics revolution in the making

This initiative is more than just another rail project—it’s a reimagining of Cameroon’s entire supply chain. The Edéa–Kribi–Campo route has been on national planners’ radar for years. As far back as 2021, authorities were coordinating with development partners to advance two critical sections totaling 291.5 km: the 184.5 km Edéa–Kribi–Campo line and the 107 km Douala–Limbé–Idénau segment. The updated plan now includes a branch to Lolabé, adjacent to the deep-sea port of Kribi, reinforcing the southern corridor’s role in national logistics.

The upcoming public-private partnership will span the full project lifecycle: feasibility studies, financing, construction, operations and maintenance. While no final investment decision has been made, key details remain undecided, including exact route length, phased construction timeline, total budget, concession duration and service launch schedule. For the government, this corridor promises to unlock southern Cameroon’s economic potential and boost export competitiveness. For AGL, already a major player in Central African logistics, it’s an opportunity to solidify its dominance in freight movement across the region.

Kribi’s deep-sea gateway gets a rail lifeline

The economic rationale for the project hinges on Kribi, Cameroon’s only deep-water port. Currently, its growth is constrained by limited overland connections—a problem a direct rail link would solve. Such a connection would bridge the port, nearby industrial zones and international trade flows more efficiently than Douala, where the Wouri estuary limits optimal navigation conditions.

The mining dimension becomes clear with Camalco’s involvement. The company, behind the Minim Martap bauxite project in the Adamaoua region, holds one of the world’s most significant high-grade bauxite deposits. Canyon Resources estimates proven reserves at 144 million tons with an average alumina content of 51.2% and silica at 1.7%. Total resources reach a staggering 1.102 billion tons. Such volumes demand a robust evacuation chain—from mine to rail, storage terminals and bulk carriers.

Camalco secures critical transport links to guarantee bauxite exports

In the near term, Canyon Resources is prioritizing the Douala corridor. To strengthen this route, Camalco has invested 9.852 billion FCFA to increase its stake in Camrail—the national rail concessionaire—from 9.1% to 26.9%. The company has also poured 347.447 million FCFA into Terminal Bois du Port de Douala S.A. Preparations are underway for the Inland Rail Facility and port upgrades. First locomotives are scheduled for delivery by the end of Q2 2026, followed by wagons in July. The maiden bauxite shipment is planned for late Q3 2026.

Yet the navigational challenges at Douala inevitably inflate unit costs for bulk mineral shipments. The Edéa–Kribi–Lolabé–Campo corridor offers a direct alternative to a deep-water port, reducing dependence on the current bottleneck. For Cameroon, this project aligns regional connectivity, natural resource development and Kribi’s emergence as a major export hub.

Significant uncertainties remain. The MoU does not specify investment costs, risk-sharing arrangements or environmental and land-use impacts. These factors will determine international investor appetite and the project’s long-term financial viability. Still, the Yaoundé signing reinserts the corridor into Cameroon’s pipeline of transformative infrastructure projects, laying the groundwork for a future logistics ecosystem unifying rail, ports and mining.