Geologist says 300 Discovered Minerals are not Yet Economically Mineable

Cameroonian geologist, Dr. George Mafany Teke, who is also the South West  Regional Delegate of Scientific Research and Innovation, MINRESI, has clarified that the over 300 new minerals discovered in Cameroon recently by the World Bank and the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, are not economically minable.

In an interview granted Voice of Nature News, July 11, 2019, the economic geologist posited that “the 300 new discoveries are within the range of the inferred and indicated mineral deposits”.  The inferred mineral resources, according to him, means the area that has been studied have traces of the mineral but does not permit any conclusion because the geological knowledge is very low, while indicated resources point to the fact that the number of geological confidence is increasing, which means more scientific studies has been done to indicate that the area has minerals.

Dr. Mafany noted that Cameroon is still at the exploration phase of the process that is some resources have been studied and carried to the level of measured resources, or proven ore deposit and the government is now negotiating on how to go about the process of mining.

To him, the economic profitability of a mineral resource is not only limited to its geology.   “It is not only the geology that determines the economic profitability of the resources; you have other modifying factors like the mining method, social component, the political and environmental climate,” he expounded.

As to the next step after this discovery, the geologist opined that it will be to commence the mining process, especially for minerals that have been studied enough to be proven ore reserves. This according to him, requires heavy capital mobilisations and other factors, which “I am sure that the government is negotiating with their international partners and local communities”.

He disclosed that the local communities where these 300 mineral occurrences have been discovered and the country as a whole stand to benefit a lot from these mineral resources if properly managed. “If an exploration company sets up a base in an area, most of the people it uses are the local people and it brings in money that is left in the community; they gain employment and standard of living increases. Some companies have medical facilities in their exploration camps that are sometimes opened to the public. When it is upscale to mining, royalties will be paid to the communities. This may be in the form of employment, infrastructural development, capacity building, etc.,” Dr. Mafany stated.

The MINRESI boss presaged against the government rushing the mining industry from the exploration to the mining phase. “We should do it in a progressive manner so that it allows us to have the institution and infrastructure for us to optimally benefit from the resources,” he advised.

A few weeks ago, Cameroon’s Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development published a concept note of the discovery of over 300 new mineral occurrences,  which according to World Bank estimate exceed 500 in the five regions by September 2019.  According to the concept note, the government will be organizing the 3rd edition of the Cameroon International, Investment Mining and Exhibition Conference during which details of this great discovery will be made available to the public.  The exhibition has been slated for September 2-4, 2019, in Yaounde.

By Ndimuh B. Shancho