As the Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon approaches the production phase, Canyon Resources, an Australian company listed on the ASX, announced the resignation of its CEO, Peter Secker, on April 13, 2026, citing personal reasons. Despite this departure, Secker will remain in his position during a transition period to ensure continuity of operations and facilitate the project's shift to the production phase.
Canyon Resources Chairman Mark Hohnen praised Peter Secker's contribution to the project's advancement, highlighting his pivotal role in progressing Minim Martap towards the exploitation phase. In parallel, an international recruitment process has been launched to find a successor to Mr. Secker. The company is seeking a profile with experience in bauxite and alumina operations, capable of leading the project to its full production capacity. Non-executive director Scott Phegan has also left his position to focus on other responsibilities.
These leadership changes come at a crucial time as Minim Martap enters a decisive operational phase. The first drilling operations are expected to start soon on the site, and the start of commercial production is still planned for the second quarter of 2026. Logistically, the seven locomotives ordered in China left the factories at the end of March and are expected to arrive at the port of Douala by the end of the second quarter of 2026, in anticipation of a first ore loading announced for the third quarter. Construction of the road linking the mining area to the railway facilities is proceeding as planned, a strategic axis for transporting the ore to the port of Douala.
Canyon Resources is also pursuing two significant projects to increase the project's capacity. The first concerns an increase in its stake in Camrail beyond 20% (compared to 9.1% currently) to strengthen its control over the logistics chain. The second concerns the marketing of future production, with advanced discussions with potential bauxite buyers. The company plans to finalize these agreements after the first loadings, to confirm the quality of the ore, which is expected to contain around 51% alumina and almost 2% silica.
With estimated reserves of 144 million tonnes, Minim Martap is one of Cameroon's most significant bauxite projects. Its entry into production is seen as an important step for the Cameroonian mining sector, as the country seeks to better exploit its mining potential and position itself on the international bauxite market.
