19 Dec 2023
The Mining Code sets local transformation
Law No. 2023/014 provides that at least 15% of mine output be destined for local transformation (art. 40(4)).
Source: Loi n° 2023/014 du 19 décembre 2023 portant Code minier
Labs · Project timeline
What is verified, what is planned, and when?
9 verified, dated facts since the 2023 Mining Code, each with its source, and 3 statements reported by the press or claimed by the party concerned, labelled as such. After 10 October 2026 everything is planned, an objective or indicative: these steps may move.
Result
Derived—
Verified, sourced facts
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Reported statements, not verified
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Planned, objective or indicative steps
10 Oct 2026
Latest verified fact
Showing 22 milestones: 9 verified facts with their sources, 3 statements reported by a single press source or claimed by the party concerned, and 10 planned, objective or indicative steps, which may move with permits, engineering, the market and financing.
30 Dec 2024
Foundation stone laid at Mboro
The Prime Minister, Head of Government, representing the Head of State, lays the foundation stone of the Kribi steel complex, with a target capacity of 1 Mt/yr.
9 May 2025
Second container terminal in service
The Port of Kribi brings its second container terminal into service, with a 715 m quay and 16 m of depth.
6 Aug 2025
Kribi 225 kV line launched
A 42 km line from the gas power plant to the port and a 225/30 kV substation: 100 MW at first, then 330 to 400 MW.
Source: Port Autonome de Kribi, « Kribi franchit la ligne électrique 225 kV », 6 Aug 2025
10 Dec 2025
A committee for mines–metallurgy integration
The Prime Minister sets up a committee tasked, among other things, with securing ore supply for local steelmakers and enforcing local transformation.
Source: EcoMatin, 16 Apr 2026
12 Dec 2025
Mbalam and the 15% local transformation
The convention of Cameroon Mining Company, the sister company holding the Mbalam exploitation permit, is reported to provide for 15% of its output to be transformed locally; the same report presents Cameroon Steel as the future national steel hub of the programme.
26 Feb 2026
KPIZ S.A. is launched, with a steel cluster
The company that will develop the Kribi industrial-port zone (about 4,000 ha) lists “steelmaking linked to mineral exports” among its clusters.
Source: Investir au Cameroun, 4 Mar 2026
7–9 Apr 2026
The complex is reported on the port’s inspection tour
According to one press report, the tour by the Director General of the Port Autonome de Kribi includes, for the mining sector, the “modern steel complex of Kribi”.
Source: Bougna.net, 8 Apr 2026
22 Apr 2026
Kribi claims the rank of the country’s largest container terminal
The port reports 2025 traffic of 12.7 Mt (+19%) and 555,398 TEU, 37.5% of national container traffic, on its own figures.
4 Jun 2026
Memorandum for the Édéa–Kribi–Lolabé–Campo railway
The Government and partners sign a memorandum on the studies, financing, construction and operation of a line of about 185 km.
Source: Port Autonome de Kribi, communiqué, 4 Jun 2026
19 Aug 2026
Minister visits the 225/30 kV substation
The Minister of Water and Energy inspects the line, the substation and the port’s water plant, whose production is announced for early 2027.
Source: Port Autonome de Kribi, « Énergie et infrastructures : un nouvel élan… », 19 Aug 2026
10 Oct 2026
Ten white papers published
Cameroon Steel publishes ten sourced studies on market, technology, energy, climate, skills and quality.
Source: Cameroon Steel
End 2026
Announced commissioning of the 225 kV line
Date announced by the Port Autonome de Kribi for the line and substation that will supply the industrial zone.
Source: Port Autonome de Kribi, communiqués of 6 Aug 2025 and 19 Aug 2026 (site visit by the Minister of Water and Energy)
Early 2027
Announced start of the port’s water plant
A dedicated intake and treatment plant for the port platform: production is announced for early 2027.
Source: Port Autonome de Kribi, « Énergie et infrastructures : un nouvel élan pour la compétitivité du Port de Kribi », 19 Aug 2026
First half 2027
Site surveys and environmental scoping
Topographic and geotechnical surveys; terms of reference of the environmental and social impact assessment submitted to the Ministry of Environment.
Source: Cameroon Steel, reference configuration RC-1 (edition 10 Oct 2026)
2027
Front-end engineering for Phase 1
Engineering with the technology supplier; power and water supply agreements.
Source: Cameroon Steel, reference configuration RC-1 (edition 10 Oct 2026)
2027–2028
Two-season impact study and public hearings
Field measurements in the dry and rainy seasons, public consultations, then the certificate of environmental compliance, targeted for the fourth quarter of 2028.
Source: Cameroon Steel, reference configuration RC-1 (edition 10 Oct 2026)
Late 2028 to Q1 2029
Financing, then start of Phase 1 works after the environmental certificate
Financial close then, once the certificate of environmental compliance is granted, start of construction of the Phase 1 electric melt shop and mills from the first quarter of 2029.
Source: Cameroon Steel, reference configuration RC-1 (edition 10 Oct 2026)
H2 2030
Phase 1: first heat
Hot commissioning and first heat, then ramp-up in 2031 towards the nameplate capacity of 0.3 Mt/yr of reinforcing bar and wire rod.
Source: Cameroon Steel, reference configuration RC-1 (edition 10 Oct 2026)
2032–2034
Phase 2: sections, to 0.5 Mt/yr
Angles, channels and flats from a second melt line and a sections mill, subject to market and financing.
Source: Cameroon Steel, reference configuration RC-1 (edition 10 Oct 2026)
After 2034
Phase 3: heavy sections, to 1 Mt/yr
H- and I-beams and heavy sections, with the melt-shop expansion, subject to market and financing.
Source: Cameroon Steel, reference configuration RC-1 (edition 10 Oct 2026)
Later
Option: direct reduction of Cameroonian ore
A direct-reduction module could process national ore, subject to its quality, gas supply and approvals.
Source: Cameroon Steel, reference configuration RC-1 (edition 10 Oct 2026)
In the timeline, ← → move between milestones, ↑ ↓ switch lanes.
Statuses and rules
| Status | Meaning | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verified | Dated public fact, with its source | Verified | National press, official communiqués, legal texts |
| Reported | Dated statement resting on a single press source, or a claim by the party concerned: reported, not verified | Reported | Press articles cited at each milestone |
| Planned | Date announced by a third party (port, ministry) | Planned | Port Autonome de Kribi communiqués, cited by title and date |
| Objective | Step of Cameroon Steel’s RC-1 reference schedule, which may move | Objective | Cameroon Steel, RC-1 reference schedule |
| Indicative | Long-term option, subject to market and financing | Indicative | Cameroon Steel, RC-1 reference schedule |
| Rules checked automatically | No verified or reported fact dated after 10 Oct 2026; no planned step dated before 2026; every milestone has a source | Check | Automated site test, run at every release |
How this is calculated
Sources. Every verified fact links to its source: national press, Port Autonome de Kribi communiqués (cited by title and date), official texts. This timeline reuses the one on the Company and project page, with three port milestones added. Phases follow the RC-1 reference schedule: Phase 2 from 2032 to 2034, Phase 3 after 2034.
Statuses. Verified: a dated public fact. Reported: a dated statement that rests on a single press source, or a claim made by the party concerned; we cite it without treating it as verified. Planned: a date announced by a third party (port, ministry). Objective: a step of Cameroon Steel’s RC-1 reference schedule. Indicative: later phases and the long-term option. Objectives depend on permits, engineering, the market and financing; they can move.
Reading. Above the axis, project steps; below it, the context (State, port, industrial zone). The orange line marks the edition of 10 October 2026: to its left, facts; to its right, intentions.
Sources
- Cameroon Tribune, 30 Dec 2024 and 2 Jan 2025
- Business in Cameroon, « Kribi Port’s net profit exceeds CFA4 billion… », 29 Jun 2026; Port Autonome de Kribi, La Lettre du PAK n° 254, May 2025
- EcoMatin, 16 Apr 2026
- Camer.be via AllAfrica, 12 Dec 2025
- Investir au Cameroun, 4 Mar 2026
- Bougna.net, 8 Apr 2026
- EcoMatin, « Au Cameroun, le port de Kribi revendique la place de premier terminal à conteneurs », 22 Apr 2026
- Port Autonome de Kribi, communiqués of 6 Aug 2025, 4 Jun 2026 and 19 Aug 2026 (cited by title and date)