The United States is showing increasing interest in Cameroon's critical minerals, which are essential for the energy, industry, and defense sectors. On March 30, the acting chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Yaoundé met with the acting Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, in the presence of the Australian High Commissioner based in Abuja.
The US and Australian representatives emphasized the "increasing importance of critical minerals in sustainable economic development worldwide" and expressed their interest in supporting Cameroon's efforts in "responsible and sustainable" mining exploration. This interest is particularly focused on cobalt, nickel, manganese, rutile, and scandium. The Nkamouna-Lomié deposit, in the Eastern region, is estimated to contain 100 million tonnes of ore, with grades of 0.2% cobalt, 0.72% nickel, and 3.71% manganese. This site could potentially produce 4,160 tonnes of cobalt, 3,280 tonnes of nickel, 450,000 tonnes of manganese, and 4,000 tonnes of scandium annually. In addition to Lomié, Cameroonian authorities have identified 27 other nickel occurrences and five cobalt occurrences in the South and East regions.
However, concerns remain regarding the business environment in Cameroon. During a luncheon organized by the American Chamber of Commerce on March 26, the chargé d'affaires John G. Robinson highlighted the potential difficulties for American companies wishing to invest in critical minerals, particularly regarding the clarity of the regulatory framework. He stressed the need to improve the readability of this framework and the economic environment to attract more foreign investment.
The acting Minister of Mines assured that the United States and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen capacities, provide technical support, and transfer skills to consolidate the Cameroonian mining sector. Emphasis was also placed on the need for a solid regulatory and legal framework to stimulate foreign investment. Law N°2016/017 of December 14, 2016, establishing the Mining Code, currently governs the mining sector in Cameroon.
Cameroon seeks to diversify its sources of supply of critical resources in a geopolitical context of increased competition around these raw materials. The country aims to become a key player in the production of aluminum and is developing its mining sector to meet the growing global demand for critical minerals. The revival of the Nkamouna-Lomié project is seen as a test for Cameroon's evolving mining governance model. On March 28, 2026, discussions took place in Yaoundé between the European Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, and the US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, highlighting the importance of cooperation on critical minerals.
