Rail Upgrades In Cameroon Facilitate The Delivery Of The Minim Martap Bauxite Project
13 Rail Bridges upgraded in Cameroon by the rail operator Camrail SA. Upgrade work on an additional 55 bridges underway across the entire rail network, due to be completed in 2021. 330km of track renewal has been completed. The rail upgrades are in line with Canyon’s PFS planning and project execution.
Canyon Resources Limited (ASX: CAY) (Canyon or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on ongoing rail upgrades currently underway in Cameroon as part of a five-year infrastructure renewal programme agreed between the Cameroon Government and Camrail SA (Camrail), a subsidiary of Bolloré Transport & Logistics. Camrail operates the existing rail network that passes approximately 50km from Canyon’s world-class Minim Martap Bauxite Project.
Under the programme, and with the contribution of the World Bank, Camrail organised on behalf of the Cameroon Government the upgrade of 12 steel bridges on the line between Yaoundé and Ngaoundéré and that of the Edéa railway bridge on the line between Douala and Yaoundé.
As part of the projects implemented by the transport ministry, in February 2020 Camrail also launched upgrade work on 55 further railway bridges (metal bridges and reinforced-concrete slab bridges) across the entire rail network.
“The upgrades of these railway bridges will increase the circulation speed of trains on these works, improve rail traffic safety and reduce the journey times of the rail transport of people and goods.” said Hamadou Bakary, Director of Fixed Installations at Camrail.
“Canyon Resources is very pleased to see the success and progress of the ongoing upgrades to the Camrail rail network. The rail upgrade program and positive engagement with Camrail in Cameroon and Bolloré internationally supports the timely delivery of the Minim Martap Bauxite Project.” said Canyon Resources Managing Director Phillip Gallagher.
The work on upgrading the 68 railway bridges, amounting to a total cost of approximately AUD $10 million (4.11 billion CFA francs), is part of the programme on the modernisation of railway infrastructure. In addition, 330 km of track (Ka’a-Belabo, Batchenga and Ka’a, Douala-Yaoundé entrances and exits) has already been renewed. Reinforcement work has been carried out on 500 km of track and 1,671 hydraulic structures have been refurbished.
With the support of development partners including the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the French Development Agency and the European Union, the Cameroon Government and Camrail are currently finalising the projects to renew the track between Douala and Yaoundé and between Belabo and Ngaoundéré, for a total estimated length of around 585 km.
Bolloré Transport and Logistics is a major international transport and logistics operator with 36,500 employees across 107 countries on 5 continents. The Bolloré Group is active in 4 business areas, Ports, Logistics, Energy and Railways.
Bolloré Transport and Logistics has been active in Cameroon rail and ports for over 20 years. Camrail, a subsidiary of Bolloré Railways, has been the railway operator in Cameroon since 1999. Until 2019 Bolloré was a concessionaire at the Port of Douala and is currently operating a container concession at the Kribi Deep Water Port.
