and Technological Development visited the future site of a bitumen production plant in the Kribi industrial-port zone The project is being led by All Bitumen Plc who also chairs the interministerial committee overseeing the initiative reaffirmed the government’s full support for the plant "The minister reassured us that his door remains open He stressed that his mission is to support investors especially those with mature projects and strong potential," said Oumarou the minister observed early work carried out by the Chinese firm CHEC which began clearing the 60-hectare site on March 20 CHEC was hired by All Bitumen Plc to prepare the land with construction expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 which will cost an estimated CFA161 billion is expected to be partly financed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) the bank signed a mandate with All Bitumen Plc to serve as lead arranger This role gives Afreximbank the ability to fund part of the project directly and to bring in additional partners The facility will produce 250,000 tons of bitumen per year and will include a mini oil refinery capable of processing 10,000 barrels per day The refinery will supply the raw material for the plant the plant is expected to reduce road construction costs in Cameroon by up to 30% according to estimates from civil engineering experts The project is also projected to create between 300 and 400 direct jobs and about 1,500 indirect jobs Kribi Bitumen Plant Set to Start Construction in 2025 with Government Backing CEMAC Bond Market Hits CFA 8.45 Trillion in March 2025, Interest Rates Drop Cameroon’s Timber Output Projected to Rise in 2025 Despite Higher Export Taxes Central Africa Stock Exchange Sees 98% Drop in Trading Value in Q1 2025 Every week the economy and investment news from Cameroon Mboa Paris Trains 30 Young Cameroonians to Boost Tech and Entrepreneurship Cameroon Audit Targets Former Officials for Mismanagement in Agricultural Project Camwater Seeks Global Bids to Launch Bottled Water Lines in Five Cities Bafoussam Workshop Highlights Benefits of Cameroon-EU Trade Agreement Cameroon Could Reach 350,100 Tons of Cotton in 2025 (Beac) Paul Biya Appoints Johnny Razack as Chair of Cameroon’s National Investment Company Cameroon Refuses Work Visa Renewal for Casino and Super U Boss Over Toxic Workplace Claims Cameroon Joins Global Charter to Fight Illegal Fishing Africa Intelligence brings you exclusive coverage of the major political economic and diplomatic issues at stake on the African continent identifying power players on the rise and low-frequency signals on the horizon Peruse our daily story summaries to get the scoop on tomorrow's top stories ahead of the crowd We will not use your address for advertising or commercial purposes Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters Do you want a free trial before subscribing A cookie is a text file placed on the hard drive of your terminal (computer It aims to make browsing more fluid and to offer you content and services tailored to your interests These cookies are required to ensure the reliability and security and our website They are also used to create and log into your user account Three ways to create your email notifications: Do not hesitate to create your own notifications according to your interests : better criteria narrows down the results You can modify or delete your notifications or summaries in your account Sign up for real-time alerts and be notified of new editions you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) on Friday handed over the second phase of the Kribi Deep Seaport to authorities in southern Cameroon 22 (Xinhua) -- China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) on Friday handed over the second phase of the Kribi Deep Seaport to authorities in southern Cameroon general manager of the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) said the completion of the second phase will significantly improve the efficiency of the port That will permit us to handle more traffic on our port," Melom said while commending CHEC for "good collaboration and flexibility" during the construction general manager of CHEC Central Africa Division said the handover ceremony marked a major milestone that will enable the Kribi Deep Seaport to play a crucial role in driving regional economic development "The completion of its second phase is an important step toward meeting the growing demands of trade and enhancing the port's handling capacity Today's handover is not an endpoint but rather a new beginning we will continue to support the government in optimizing port facilities and enhancing service quality to provide customers with more efficient and convenient logistics solutions," Chen said The construction of the port's second phase started in 2019 Search for a publication Search for a meeting port managers of the first cycle in Kribi will follow the delivery of module 2: Organisation of a port system The course will be delivered by local experts and experts from Douala certified TrainForTrade As part of the activities of the French-speaking network of the TrainForTrade Port Management Programme (PMP) of the port community of Kribi are starting the delivery of the course on Modern Port Management (240 hours) from October 2024 to mid 2026 The trainees will draft theses consisting of case studies concerning a real problem and providing concrete recommendations to improve the performance of the port community of Kribi The UNCTAD TrainForTrade Port Management Programme (PMP) supports port communities in developing countries in delivering more efficient and competitive port management in the future In order to increase trade flows and foster economic development the programme creates port networks bringing together public The aim is to share knowledge and expertise between port operators and strengthen talent management and human resources development in port communities The PMP provides technical assistance in various areas as well as conducts research and analysis on port-related issues This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page (Business in Cameroon) - Olusegun Obasanjo Nigeria’s former president turned businessman is set to visit the Kribi deep-sea port in Cameroon this April to launch his company His venture aims to strengthen cross-border trade between Cameroon and Nigeria OABL plans to invest $700 million (about CFA420 billion) in multiple sectors Obasanjo will expand his farm operations into Cameroon cultivating maize and soybeans on 610 hectares of land to support his livestock business OABL has secured land concessions from the Kribi port authority and intends to set up packaging factories The company also plans to develop a 10-hectare site for wood processing and introduce various maritime services to ease congestion at Nigeria’s Apapa and Lekki ports “Our goal is to provide transshipment services and other key operations at the Kribi deep-sea port,” Ngwana explained OABL’s plans also include building oil and gas storage facilities for ship refueling and constructing a five-star hotel in Kribi Obasanjo’s investment comes as Kribi prepares to launch the second phase of its port expansion a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) completed the technical handover of the new infrastructure on February 21 is expected to boost efficiency and capacity when commercial operations begin in April OABL’s projects will not only strengthen economic ties between Cameroon and Nigeria—two of the region’s leading economies—but also support local producers and position Kribi as a key hub for cross-border trade This aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by promoting intra-African commerce trade between Cameroon and Nigeria was largely driven by exports according to Cameroon’s National Institute of Statistics authorities note that informal trade and smuggling significantly impact official trade figures given the two countries share a long and porous 1,500-km border (Business in Cameroon) - Afreximbank to raise CFA161 billion for a new bitumen plant in Kribi Site preparation underway as Cameroon eyes lower road construction costs Government signals interest in taking up to 15% stake in the project Afreximbank has taken the lead in helping fund a new bitumen plant to be built in Cameroon’s southern port city of Kribi shared the update during a presentation at the 2025 ARDA Week investors’ forum held in Cape Town this April Afreximbank is not only expected to provide part of the financing but also bring in other financial partners to secure the CFA161 billion needed for the plant’s construction and equipment This amount includes contributions from the project sponsors which focuses on supporting trade and development across Africa has already funded nearly CFA2 billion worth of project studies The Chinese firm China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was contracted for a five-month period to clear the 60-hectare site That work is progressing faster than expected which could pave the way for earthworks to start ahead of schedule construction of the plant could begin in the last quarter of 2025 All Bitumen has started talks with four potential construction firms from Europe and Asia These companies are expected to visit the site in June before submitting their bids The project has received strong backing from the Cameroonian government which sees it as a way to boost the local production of materials needed for roadbuilding—one of the priorities laid out in the country’s 2020–2030 national development strategy the government set up an interministerial committee to follow its progress The most recent meeting took place on March 26 While the state has expressed interest in acquiring a stake of 5% to 15% “The government is helping us every step of the way,” said Oumarou but I want to be clear—nothing has been signed We hope the talks will move forward with the revamped National Investment Company.” the plant will produce 250,000 tons of bitumen a year It will be supported by a small refinery capable of processing 10,000 barrels of crude oil per day to provide the raw material needed Industry experts say the project could cut road construction costs in Cameroon by as much as 30% and generate up to 400 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect ones (Business in Cameroon) - Sources within both the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) and the logistics company Africa Global Logistics (AGL) confirm that key parties involved in the development of a 1,500-hectare industrial zone adjacent to Kribi's deep-water port in southern Cameroon will meet in Paris in the coming days according to a source close to the discussions the public body managing the Kribi port platform a logistics company that acquired the African assets of the Bolloré Group in December 2022; the Chinese company CHEC one of the operators of the Kribi container terminal; and the Tanger Mediterranean Special Agency (TMSA) which manages Morocco’s Tanger MED port complex Also attending the meeting will be Cameroonian businessman Colin Ebarko Mukete who controls the investment vehicle Belmont Investments involved in the container terminal project at Kribi's deep-water port which recently committed to invest CFA230 billion in the development of a 500-hectare industrial zone at the port of Douala One of the primary objectives of the Paris talks is to finalize a shareholder agreement that will define each party's stake in the project This is expected to lead to the creation of a joint venture with capital contributions from the partners based on their respective assets This initial capital release is aimed at securing the necessary funding to begin the project The CFA550 billion investment will involve the development and maintenance of 1,500 hectares of land for logistics and industrial activities the Kribi industrial-port zone will generate 50,000 direct jobs The work will mainly include deforestation and the construction of utilities and infrastructure such as telecommunications commercial buildings such as high-end business centers and warehouses will be constructed this infrastructure will be leased to companies with the added benefit of the incentives provided by the 2013 law on private investment in Cameroon and the law governing economic zones These laws offer significant tax and customs exemptions during both the installation and production phases PAK believes the project will have far-reaching benefits including increased activity and traffic volumes at Kribi port enhanced competitiveness for Cameroon’s foreign trade a boost in foreign direct investments (FDI) and a contribution to the country’s industrialization in line with the National Development Strategy for 2020-2030 (Business in Cameroon) - The second container terminal at the Kribi deep seaport in southern Cameroon with a quay length of 715 meters—double the length of the first terminal—is nearing completion “The construction work is practically finished and has even been technically approved I can confidently say the first ship will dock at Kribi by late February or early March 2025 this facility will be fully operational,” said Patrice Melom Director General of the Kribi Port Authority (PAK) in a video posted on the port’s official website the launch of this second terminal will enable Kribi to rival other major ports in the Gulf of Guinea will be operated by Kribi Conteneurs Terminal (KCT) a joint venture between logistics firm Africa Global Logistics (formerly Bolloré) has already received port equipment for the terminal represent an investment of over CFA50 billion with the total cost projected at CFA70 billion The second container terminal is part of Phase 2 of the Kribi deep seaport construction project which includes terminals for hydrocarbons and minerals This phase is critical to supporting Cameroon’s emerging mining sector built at an estimated cost of CFA400 billion “The second phase of KCT operations will create over 300 direct jobs strengthen Kribi’s industrial-port platform and boost economic exchanges across the subregion,” said David Azra which operates both container terminals at the port A fashion designer arranges his works at a stand in Kribi Textiles and Accessories started Wednesday in Cameroon's seaside resort town of Kribi aimed at improving the infrastructure and performance of the country's cotton value chain The forum featured an exhibition of locally-made cotton products and a fashion show showcasing creations that incorporate Cameroonian traditional textile crafts such as embroidery into modern fashion Models present creations on a fashion show in Kribi A model presents a creation on a fashion show in Kribi An artisan demonstrates the process of making a traditional cotton-based fabric in Kribi (Business in Cameroon) - During a visit to the Nachtigal hydropower dam construction site on September 19 addressed the recent power outages affecting major cities like Yaoundé and Douala He explained that the interruptions are linked to production issues including the shutdown of the Kribi gas power plant in the South region "The Kribi gas plant is currently shut down due to a financial dispute between Eneo and the production company Globeleq This has reduced the sector’s production capacity by at least 20% leading to inconveniences for the population," the minister told the press Along with the 88 MW Dibamba heavy fuel plant both facilities—56% controlled by independent power producer Globeleq and 44% by the state—provide 20% of the country’s electricity supply Globeleq revealed that Eneo owes it over CFA100 billion in arrears a problem that had already caused plant shutdowns in November and December 2023 Although the plants resumed operations after the government pledged CFA30 billion in payments on December 20 claiming that the government and public entities owe it over CFA200 billion The debt owed by public entities has nearly doubled from CFA167 billion in December 2022 to CFA266 billion in December 2023," said Eneo CEO Amine Homman Ludiye in an interview with Business in Cameroon He added that while investments have been made the main challenge is now in the transmission and distribution sectors Minister Eloundou Essomba expressed optimism He believes efforts to boost energy production will significantly reduce the hardships caused by production shortfalls and weak transmission infrastructure The recent commissioning of the third unit at the Nachtigal dam which now provides 180 MW of its planned 420 MW to the southern interconnected grid The next focus is ensuring the availability of transmission infrastructure "We will continue our inspection along the transmission lines to Douala to ensure the schedule is aligned and that the energy produced at Nachtigal can be delivered in real time," the minister said (Business in Cameroon) - The gas-fired power plant in Kribi 21 after being offline since September 2024 The shutdown followed a dispute over an outstanding debt of CFA137 billion owed to Globeleq the independent power producer managing the Kribi (216 MW) and Dibamba (88 MW) plants The Kribi plant’s 216 MW capacity is now back online helping to balance the country’s energy supply and demand This power is fed into the South Interconnected Network (RIN) which serves seven of Cameroon’s ten regions during the "Industry and Energy" panel at the first Cameroon Economic Meetings organized by the Groupement des entreprises du Cameroun (GECAM) "We reached an agreement with Globeleq last Friday (February 21) and the Kribi plant is now back in service," Minister Eloundou Essombla stated he did not provide details about the terms of the agreement between the state and Globeleq Sources close to the matter revealed that in recent days Cameroon’s Treasury had raised funds through public securities issued by the BEAC to partially settle the debt owed to Globeleq by Eneo the government has typically covered unpaid electricity bills from decentralized local authorities and state-owned companies like the Cameroon Aluminium Company (Alucam) Eneo has estimated that the state and its branches owe over CFA100 billion The Treasury often steps in to make payments to Eneo is required to clear its debts with suppliers such as Globeleq The plant’s reopening is expected to help ease the ongoing power outages that have affected households and businesses for several weeks Despite the increased output from the Nachtigal Dam (420 MW) the country has been facing a daily electricity deficit of up to 100 MW This power shortage is largely the result of the Kribi gas plant’s shutdown along with the low water levels and climate change which have significantly reduced the output from other plants Minister Eloundou Essombla explained that the Memve’élé plant was completely halted at times due to low water levels in the Ntem River a ship arrived at Kribi Port carrying important equipment from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Limited This delivery was significant for the port as it brought five new cranes for the Port Authority of Kribi and marked the first use of the new 715-meter-long dock This dock is a major component of Phase II of Kribi’s industrial-port project “This initial docking not only tests the new 715-meter dock designed for container handling but also allows us to receive the five new quay cranes and two of the RTG cranes We expect the remainder of the equipment to arrive by October 2024,” stated the PAK Phase II includes several major improvements: the construction of the new dock an extension of the breakwater by 675 meters the development of 30 hectares of storage space and the construction of terminals for aluminum and hydrocarbons The project also involves acquiring advanced handling equipment and expanding roads and infrastructure The total cost of this phase is CFA400 billion with 75% funded by a loan from the Eximbank of China The Port Authority of Kribi anticipates future milestones “Today’s arrival marks the beginning of important developments including the arrival of additional RTG cranes in October and the full completion of construction expected by December 2024,” they announced (Business in Cameroon) - The Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) received advanced port equipment on October 14 marking a significant milestone in the port’s ongoing expansion The vessel Fu Zhou Guo Ji delivered 13 Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes boosting the port's capacity as it nears the completion of Phase II of its industrial and port expansion project These new additions join five Ship to Shore (STS) cranes and two RTGs that were received on September 12 this cutting-edge equipment will enhance operational efficiency speeding up ship loading and unloading while ensuring safe and effective container handling The port authority emphasized that these upgrades will help streamline operations and significantly improve performance the 715-meter quay under Phase II is preparing to handle the increasing maritime traffic PAK estimates that the turnaround time for ships will be greatly reduced and the port's handling capacity will double PAK said its teams are fully engaged in this strategic step which aims to position Kribi as a leading logistics hub in the region Phase II of the expansion project involves building a new 715-meter quay extending the protective breakwater by 675 meters and constructing aluminum and hydrocarbon terminals 75% of which is financed through a loan from China’s Eximbank the port of Kribi has seen steady growth in containerized imports increasing from 7,526 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) in August 2023 to 8,878 TEUs by March 31 Domestic container traffic also rose from 9,026 TEUs in August 2023 to 10,720 TEUs by March 2024 the first quarter of 2024 was the best first quarter on record for Kribi a 38% increase compared to the 55,802 TEUs in Q1 2023 PAK highlighted that this marks the second consecutive quarter of positive growth saw an impressive 80% jump in Q1 2024 A Cameroonian worker operates at the construction site of phase II project of the Kribi Deep Seaport in Kribi Chinese and Cameroonians worked side by side in complete harmony at a vast construction site at Kribi Deep Seaport where China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) is building phase II of the port June 4 (Xinhua) -- The sun overhead was shining brightly in Cameroon's southern town of Kribi The CHEC routinely pairs Cameroonian crew with experienced Chinese colleagues who assist them in performing their tasks until they are able to continue unaided told Xinhua that such a working environment has contributed significantly to the knowledge transfer and skills development of local employees "I have learned a lot when it comes to managerial duties and how to oversee activities on the site It is a real honor for me to work on such a project for my country and also for the CHEC," said 28-year-old Koule whose main task is to ensure that all workers on the site are in good health and no one suffers from job-related injuries Cameroonian and Chinese technicians talk in a machine room at a drinking water treatment plant in Bafoussam "The first thing I learned is how to work in a multicultural environment Given that the project follows Chinese standards there is first the understanding and application according to Chinese standards," he said now works at a sophisticated tollgate of the Kribi-Lolabe highway He joined the CHEC as a translator but gained knowledge and skills thanks to collaboration with Chinese colleagues "This is my first time to work with a company that manages a highway and I have learned a lot about the functioning of a highway," he said thousands of Cameroonians are employed by Chinese firms who train them on the job or through formal programs Chinese firms are helping Cameroonian youth upgrade their skills and better contribute to the country's industrialization Cameroonian and Chinese talk in an operating system room at a drinking water treatment plant in Bafoussam Jules Elanga was among the first to join engineers of Chinese construction company CGCOC Group when they arrived in Cameroon's West Region in 2014 to build a water treatment plant and related facilities that would supply 10,000 cubic meters of water a day to Bafoussam It was part of a project to provide water to nine cities in Cameroon Elanga spent over a year working side by side with Chinese engineers especially in terms of management of electro-mechanical equipment workshop management and other devices," said Elanga who now heads the maintenance department of state-run Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation (CAMWATER) in the region the company now functions without the assistance of the Chinese," he said the maintenance of equipment is done by us who heads the CAMWATER production department in the region our production capacity has increased by 30 percent." there is a multipurpose stadium built by China Machinery Engineering Corporation who have been working at the stadium since 2014 said the company's systems have been created in a way that gives workers an opportunity to experience various areas of the project Many people were unskilled laborers when they joined but now they are skilled workers," Ndoh said "This is good for them and good for the country." Abdelkadher said he stayed with the company and learned a lot there (Business in Cameroon) - Japan provided fishermen in Kribi with two batches of much-needed equipment on September 6 "We’re here to congratulate you for your hard work made possible by both the government and our Japanese partners will help solve equipment challenges and create better conditions for fishing here in the Ocean department and across Cameroon." He was joined by a representative from the Japanese Embassy and ice production machines to support the fishermen's work though the total cost of the local contribution wasn’t revealed plays a vital role in Cameroon’s fishing industry The fresh fish and shrimp caught in the nearby Atlantic waters are regularly shipped to the capital through well-organized distribution systems that keep the seafood flowing to market Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world cotton and other commodities to world markets Gantry cranes sit on the dockside at the container terminal at the Port of Kribi XLinkedInEmailLinkGiftFacebookXLinkedInEmailLinkGiftBy August 29 2018 at 6:01 PM EDTBookmarkSaveEvery day at sunrise Alain Eko walks half an hour on a footpath cutting through a coastal forest to the edge of what’s to become the biggest deep-water port in central Africa is among hundreds of migrant workers who have pinned their hopes on Cameroon’s most ambitious project since independence in 1960 that’s meant to transform the sleepy fishing town of Kribi into an industrial hub the project is helping Chinese companies gain a foothold in Cameroon whose oil-dependent economy used to be dominated by French firms and eased access to neighboring Chad and Central African Republic (Business in Cameroon) - Kribi Containers Terminal (KCT) the operator of the deep-water port’s container terminal in southern Cameroon has revealed more details about the cost of equipment needed to run its second container terminal a joint venture between Africa Global Logistics (AGL confirmed that the equipment received on October 14 These complement earlier equipment delivered on September 12 though the cost of those items was not disclosed The total investment required for operating this new terminal which has a 715-meter-long quay (twice the length of the first terminal) and covers 33 hectares “To strengthen the economy of Gulf of Guinea countries and enhance its role as a regional hub KCT is committed to working with the Cameroonian government on the operation of phase two of the container terminal This will improve service delivery for shippers and shipping companies as quickly as possible,” said David Azra Besides the construction of the new container terminal to be managed by KCT phase two of the deep-water port project also includes extending the breakwater by 675 meters and building terminals for aluminum and hydrocarbons The total cost of this phase is estimated at CFA400 billion with 75% funded by a loan from Eximbank of China “The second phase of KCT’s activities will create over 300 direct jobs and boost economic exchanges throughout the region,” added Azra 2024 (CEA) – ECA will provide its expertise to leverage the integrated industrial zone of the Kribi deep sea port to a new generation special economic zone ECA is willing to fully support the port’s industrial area as a special economic zone contributing to the development of regional value chains and value retention through an affirmative local content policy the settled industries and those in the setting up process must build partnerships with SMEs to sustain skills development topped off by drastically reduced administrative formalities in terms of business settlement the port and the industrial complex environmental sustainability must be given particular attention so that the massive infrastructure cater efficiently for future generations the industrial zone has been operational since January 2018 it is home to fully operational 40 industrial companies The indicated production units operate in the agri-food This industrial zone aims to becoming a pivotal industrial-port complex in Central Africa it will reach its final phase of construction and will include mining plants and an ore terminal all served by a railway for better connectivity to regional trade The ore terminal will have an initial processing capacity of 100 million tonnes which can be increased to 150 million tonnes It will facilitate the exploitation of the Mbalam deposit in Cameroon and the Nabeba deposit in the Republic of Congo The two Governments have already embarked on resources mobilization to build the railway and efficiently exploit the deposit ECA Report on the impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on the demand for transport infrastructure and services reveals that implementation of the AfCFTA will double sea freight traffic from 58 to 131.5 million tonnes The African maritime network comprises 142 links connecting 65 ports and accounts for 22.1% of intra-African freight transport This share will increase by 0.6% to 22.7% if the AfCFTA and the planned infrastructure projects are fully implemented ECA also points out that the AfCFTA requires 126 ships for bulk goods and 15 ships for containers by 2030 These figures are reduced to 121 and 14 ships respectively if the planned infrastructure projects are effectively implemented offers both a logistical and an industrial platform for the subregional economic diversification led by an inclusive industrialization The port has demonstrated this leadership by hosting the first import operation to be carried out in Cameroon under AfCFTA preferences During the courtesy call He paid to Patrice Melom praised the work being done to turn Kribi into a modern industrial port complex "We are ready to support the activation of the industrial port complex as an engine for the development of regional value chains in Central Africa and a catalytic platform to harness economic opportunities within the “Kribi-Douala-Edea Growth Triangle” as identified by ECA-CA studies" he stated A delegation from the Kribi Port is expected to visit ECA-CA in the coming week to deepen the discussions on the areas for collaboration between the two institutions Issued by:Communications SectionEconomic Commission for AfricaPO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 11 551 5826E-mail: eca-info@un.org © United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Since he was old enough to work, Sam Elong has been a fisherman in Kribi, a coastal town of more than 90,000 inhabitants that stretches along the shore of the Gulf of Guinea at the mouth of the Kienké and Lobé rivers in Cameroon we used to come back with 100-150 kg [220-330 pounds] of fish,” Elong tells Mongabay during a video call fish have been less easy to find … The construction of the port has made a lot of noise we come home with 70 to 80 kg [154-176 lbs] of fish.” He says he has financial difficulties and struggles to feed his children “At the present time we eat breakfast in the morning and then in the afternoon and in the evening we struggle on like this A decline in fishing could have dramatic consequences for the fishermen of Kribi as well as on the food security of the cities they supply Elong and other Kribi fishers blame their declining catches on the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) Built by China Harbour Engineering Company a subsidiary of Beijing-headquartered China Communications Construction Company Ltd the massive port is intended to decongest the one at Douala and become a trade hub for all Central African countries since the beginning of the port’s construction an array of environmental problems have cropped up in the area and also enhanced erosion of the coastline an influx of people putting additional pressure on the area’s mangroves and infrastructure and new pressures on wildlife in the nearby marine protected area In 2011, Paul Biya, Cameroon’s president, laid the foundation stone for the PAK, a gigantic project slated to be completed in four phases by 2040 the deepwater port complex will comprise 20 shipping terminals and 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) of quayside able to handle 100 million metric tons of cargo per year it includes a total quay length of 615 meters (2,018 feet) an aluminum terminal and a hydrocarbon terminal on the dike Eventually there will be another smaller port terminal in Lolabé Yet this financial windfall has had an impact on the environment we’ve noticed that the waves are getting rougher and the sea is encroaching further and further towards the mainland,” Benjamin Ondo Obiang water pollution specialist and the coordinator of the Kribi-based NGO Promotion Circle for Forests and Local Development Initiatives (CEPFILD) who has worked in the area for almost 25 years we can link this to the fact that the port’s infrastructures are hard The more solid the infrastructure on the coast is the more it activates the waves’ violence The entire biodiversity of this part of the coast is threatened.” the PAK completed the 1,355-m dike in 2014 it not only protects the coastline but also creates better conditions for boats to maneuver as they approach the docks is sensitive to climate change and its consequences; the town is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise In 2022, a team of researchers from the University of Douala, the University of Yaoundé 1 and the University of Liège in Belgium compared satellite images of the Kribi coastline before and after the construction of the port, and measured coastal erosion using GPS. The results, published in a study, are revealing the coastline gained around 0.4 m (1.3 ft) of sediment per year the coastline began to shrink by 0.9 m (almost 3 ft) a year the coastal area shrank by around 2 m (6.5 ft) per year But that doesn’t mean the dike is ineffective Maps in the study show that some areas have gained up to 15 m (49 ft) of sand particularly between the port and the village of Lolabé to the south The dike is therefore creating a sawtooth-shaped coastline by trapping sediment downcurrent of the Kribi port The PAK declined Mongabay’s request for an interview to respond to the concerns expressed by scientists and fishermen instead sending a statement: “[W]e have focused on reducing the impact on marine biodiversity including hydro-sedimentary studies and Port preservation plans have led to the development of a pollution control plan as well as plans for the restoration of natural environments an environmental monitoring program was set up enabling us to acquire and install on-site equipment for monitoring natural environments installed a DB8000 buoy to collect environmental data at sea and equipment to monitor the quality of groundwater several framework agreements have been signed with research institutions such as IRGM [the Geological and Mining Research Institute] or the University of Yaoundé 1 and its various laboratories dedicated to the study and monitoring of environments.” The PAK did not respond to Mongabay’s request for further information about the results of these studies and what is planned in the framework agreements The PAK communications team also denied Mongabay’s request for access to an environmental and social impact study carried out related to the PAK construction that includes measures to mitigate the impact of the port The dike isn’t the only way the PAK is influencing beach sedimentation. Damage to protective coastal vegetation weakens the coastline and exposes it to erosion. The 26,000-hectare (64,200-acre) PAK site at Mboro was originally mainly coastal forest as well as mangrove swamp but the construction of port facilities has led to significant deforestation of both which is already clearly visible via satellite The high demand for housing will lead to the extraction of sand This will increase the beaches’ slope and therefore the erosive action of the waves which will then further reduce the beaches’ area you’ll see that all the plants and trees that used to line the beaches of some of the busiest beaches are falling over … As they fall they leave the beach bare and erosion intensifies,” Ondo Obiang says “It’s like a snake biting its own tail and houses are being destroyed along the beaches The demographic growth brought about by the port’s construction is also driving demand for smoked fish a dietary staple throughout Central Africa Mangrove wood is used to build fishers’ huts and dugout canoes but above all as fuel for smoking the fish unique ecosystems at the boundary between land and sea not only protect the coast but also store more carbon than tropical rainforests hectare for hectare They also serve as a breeding ground for numerous marine species including those traditionally consumed by Cameroonians and are home to several species of sea turtle including the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Mongabay reached out to the Ministry of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Industries for an interview regarding its response to the fishers’ allegations that the port has contributed to declining fish stocks “This marine park will be considered as a refuge zone and will ensure local populations with fishing-related activities,” Ngueguim who was part of the team of scientists who inventoried the area’s biodiversity prior to the park’s establishment Covering 110,300 hectares (272,600 acres) the only place in the world where a river ends its journey cascading into the sea over a series of waterfalls It’s in the process of being designated a World Heritage Site by that same U.N The 2021 decree establishing the park states that its aims include “limiting the incursion of industrial fishermen who deplete the sea of fish protecting spawning grounds and preserving certain fish species such as the marine turtle.” The park’s management team was appointed only in June 2023 and protections have yet to be implemented the main reason is a lack of resources from the Cameroonian government which should take stock of biodiversity and assign functions to different zones taking into account the aspirations of local communities has neither been completed nor is it underway the boundaries of the park need to be marked out to prevent intrusion by ships and fishing zones need to be defined … Except that to do so requires funds and the country is currently going through a difficult economic period.” The park is located just 30 km from the port Disturbances generated by the port therefore affect the protected area And researchers are already observing the impact of port activity on certain marine species which means that fewer and fewer turtles are coming to lay their eggs and therefore there are fewer and fewer turtles,” says Jacques Fretey a marine turtle expert with the IUCN who has been working in Kribi for more than 25 years and who was involved in the park’s creation “These turtles are going to lay their eggs elsewhere and the park is losing its rich biodiversity which is a real shame,” Fretey tells Mongabay The park is also experiencing pollution that’s at least indirectly attributable to the population growth caused by the port Although Cameroon in 2013 banned the manufacture nonbiodegradable plastic bags and the granules used to make them the bags continue to be illegally imported from neighboring countries and Cameroon faces a dire plastic pollution problem turtles often mistake them for their main food “When the turtles come back from the Kribi area with oil stains and they die,” Ondo Obiang says we find plastics and garbage in their stomachs.” before being consumed by larger fish and humans So the plastic waste affects the whole food chain with its container terminal open to vessels carrying up to 8,000 containers shipping traffic is intensifying in the area Elong says he’s already observed the results while fishing outside the park I know that a boat has just been refueled and dumped its waste into the water and it’s not good — it scares the fish away,” he says There’s also a risk of heavy pollution in the event of a spill from oil platforms and oil exploration projects in the area including the offshore export terminal for the Chad/Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline Project a 1,070-km (665-mi) pipeline that transports oil from Chad the PAK wrote that Manyange na Elombo-Campo “is the subject of much interest from the PAK in terms of the compensation measures to be developed A draft framework agreement with the Ministry of Forests and Fauna (which oversees the Marine Park) is being drawn up for this purpose Other actions include the acquisition of anti-pollution equipment to intervene in the event of hydrocarbon spills (absorbent rollers support for NGOs working to preserve marine biodiversity and the reforestation of mangrove forests.” the port and the marine park authorities need to work together to reduce the risk of pollution “I had asked the minister for a port tax so that we could take care of the park the park’s curator doesn’t have enough money to take care of it There needs to be an agreement between the park and the port,” Fretey says construction of the PAK continues: A freeway between Douala and Yaoundé is just around the corner Yet solutions to preserve biodiversity and the marine environment are slow to emerge This project was intended to bring greater wealth and development but Sam Elong and other fishers continue to see the Kribian coastline shrinking and fish becoming scarce Banner image: The mangrove forests serve as a breeding ground for numerous marine species, including those traditionally consumed by Cameroonians, and are home to several species of sea turtles, including the hawksbill turtle. Image by Kris-Mikael Krister via Unsplash (Public domain) Tense neighbors: Chinese quarry in Cameroon takes a toll on locals Mbevo Fendoung, P., Tchindjang, M., & Hubert-Ferrari, A. (2022). Weakening of coastlines and coastal erosion in the Gulf of Guinea: The case of the Kribi coast in Cameroon. Land, 11(9), 1557. doi:10.3390/land11091557 The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] Children sing songs at Ndoumale Nursery and Primary School in Ndoumale village on the outskirts of Kribi July 23 (Xinhua) -- Ndoumale Village in south Cameroon used to remind people of virtually everything except for development Located on the outskirts of the seaside resort city of Kribi the once-inaccessible village now boosts revival thanks to the implementation of China-Africa cooperation projects The village's transformation began in 2011 when China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd began building the first phase of Kribi Deep Seaport about 25 km from the village Chinese construction company CGCOC Cameroon Ltd set out to construct a drinking water treatment plant and related supporting facilities in Ndoumale which can produce 7,000 cubic meters of water per day one had to trek for at least two hours through a bumpy dirt track "It was a watercourse which did not have a bridge As part of its corporate social responsibility CHEC has constructed roads and bridges in the village "Road to riches because it has opened us up to the world We now buy goods from other places and more people are relocating and constructing buildings in our village," said 63-year-old Jean Edjanle The road network extended to Bagyeli locality of pygmies "Sometimes we crossed in a canoe to go to school It's good for us," said Marie Belle Ndabouane children had to trek for nine km to find the nearest school because there was no learning institution in the village whose six children almost dropped out of school as a result of the risk and cost involved in the long journey When Xinhua reporters arrived in the village 10-year-old Brian Mengue who wants to become a medical doctor was busy attending classes with his friends at Ndoumale Nursery and Primary School The six-classroom building used to house CGCOC Chinese workers constructing the water plant but when they left after completing the project the building was transformed into a school It is the lone primary school in the village and it has been functioning for three years but now everyone attends school since it's close (to them)," said 26-year-old Louise Njole Edjenguele I am happy because we have the school here," added Mengue solar lamps are switched on to illuminate Ndoumale Nursery and Primary School which now also serves as ceremonial premises in the village The solar lamps were provided by CHEC to ease the education of the children and night activities in the village "Next year's enrollment in the school will surely increase thanks to the light," said Edjenguele villagers gathered in one of the classrooms to listen and watch CHEC workers talk about road safety measures on a major highway that CHEC constructed a few kilometers from the village The villagers cheered with excitement as the solar lamps were switched on We are blessed," shouted one of the villagers in the hall pygmies danced in gaily to welcome the installation of solar panels in the locality said that their lives have been transformed since CHEC installed the solar panels and the light can last until the morning and that's good This will also help them to be wise and intelligent in school," Ndabouane said the traditional leader of Ndoumale Village The 58-year-old said that it was his dream to lift his community out of poverty and achieve prosperity and that dream is becoming a reality thanks to China-Africa cooperation "We trust them (Chinese) and want to support them in all their projects," said Bikouo A teacher interacts with children at Ndoumale Nursery and Primary School in Ndoumale village on the outskirts of Kribi 2024 shows a view of Ndoumale Nursery and Primary School in Ndoumale village on the outskirts of Kribi (Business in Cameroon) - The Minister of Public Works recently announced in the National Assembly that CFA7 billion has been allocated for the rehabilitation of the Edéa-Kribi road He highlighted that two companies are already working on this route which has suffered significant deterioration The funds for the project come from the Public Investment Budget (BIP) and the African Development Bank (ADB) Nearly CFA4 billion of the total amount comes from the BIP and the Road Fund while CFA3 billion from the ADB are part of the Ring Road project in the Northwest part of the funding from the Ndu-Nkambe-Misaje section of the Ring Road project will be used to rehabilitate the Edéa-Kribi road The Minister assured that “the work is progressing and progress is visible despite heavy rainfall.” connects Edéa in the Littoral region to the port city of Kribi Its poor condition has made it difficult for people and goods to travel The companies handling the work are Mag Sarl and Somaf Unveiling Tomorrow's Cameroon Through Today's News 2025 — Cameroon is set to make a significant leap in its industrial development as the Grand Zambi iron ore mine in the South Region announces its first exports scheduled for June 2025 The announcement marks a major milestone for the nation’s economy currently holds an impressive stock of 500,000 cubic meters of raw iron ore plans to ship three to four cargo vessels monthly via the Kribi Deep Seaport The economic impact of the Grand Zambi project is expected to be considerable Projections estimate the creation of more than 1,000 direct jobs and approximately 3,000 indirect jobs in the region The project is also anticipated to generate substantial revenues for Cameroon through taxes and mining royalties The Grand Zambi deposit is considered one of Central Africa’s largest iron ore reserves with exceptional quality and significant volume positioning Cameroon as a future key player in the global iron market The Kribi Deep Seaport will play a pivotal role in the export process While a dedicated mineral terminal is still under development the port's multipurpose terminal will handle the initial shipments Plans for a new mineral terminal aim to address the growing needs of this promising industry Director General of the Kribi Autonomous Port emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration between the port and G-Stones Resources He noted that Kribi’s infrastructure is poised to become a commercial and industrial hub significantly advancing Cameroon’s natural resource sector and regional industrialization The government has granted G-Stones Resources a 14-year exploitation permit ensuring sustained economic benefits for the nation Officials and industry leaders see the project as a cornerstone of Cameroon’s broader industrial and economic strategy leveraging the country’s resource potential to bolster development the Grand Zambi project underscores Cameroon’s growing ambitions to position itself as a key player in Africa’s resource-driven economic transformation (Business in Cameroon) - Construction of a bitumen production plant in the Kribi industrial port zone is scheduled to start by the end of 2024 or the first quarter of 2025 at the latest "We plan to finalize the contract with the construction company by the end of this year and French companies have already shown interest in the project many partners have agreed in principle to participate in financing and a financial institution is prepared to fully fund the project if necessary," said Ahmadou Oumarou CEO of the fully Cameroonian-owned All Bitumen Cameroon Plc The government's medium-term economic and budgetary programming document prepared by the Ministry of Finance and discussed in the National Assembly on July 6 highlights the necessity of supporting All Bitumen Cameroon Plc’s project The government expects the project to reduce road infrastructure costs by 30% helping to achieve the goal of increasing paved roads in Cameroon from 9,885 km in 2023 to 11,300 km by 2027 If construction starts as projected between late 2024 and early 2025 and considering the 24 to 30-month timeline the plant would only be operational by late 2027 or early 2028 including the removal of vegetation on the 60-hectare site The tender for forestry companies to clear the area "The main challenge is to synchronize the construction of the plant with the development of related port infrastructures Both components must be ready simultaneously to ensure the plant's operations," explained Ahmadou Oumarou and the Cameroon Petroleum Depots Company (SCDP) have collaborated on preliminary studies for infrastructure such as a Duc d’Albe for docking tankers and a manifold for product distribution will soon be followed by detailed studies leading to the construction contracts for these facilities estimated at around CFA100 billion (subject to revision upon completion of FEED studies) will have an annual production capacity of 250,000 tons It will include a mini oil refinery with a capacity of 10,000 barrels per day to supply raw materials The project is expected to create 300 to 400 direct jobs and about 1,500 indirect jobs Besides lowering road infrastructure costs by 30% the plant will help reduce the country's trade deficit by saving part of the CFA300 billion spent annually on bitumen imports cuts a ribbon to inaugurate the Kribi-Lolabe Highway in Kribi A major Chinese-built highway in southwestern Cameroon was inaugurated on Friday constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) is the fruit of the close cooperation between China and Cameroon said Minister of Finance Louis Paul Motaze July 29 (Xinhua) -- A major Chinese-built highway in southwestern Cameroon was inaugurated on Friday Minister of Public Works Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi said the opening marked the completion of the first phase of the Kribi-Lolabe Highway The highway will facilitate the movement of vehicles and persons from any part of the country to Kribi Deep Seaport "This is a jewel of development which will boost Cameroon's industrialization process," Djoumessi told reporters after a guided tour of the road The main line of the Kribi-Lolabe Highway is 38.5 km long of which the two lanes in the middle are reserved for future use deputy general manager of CHEC Central Africa Division "Cameroon is a great country with many favourable conditions for development The opening of the Kribi-Lolabe Highway today is a key step in breaking the bottleneck of economic development The operation of the highway will greatly improve the business environment in Cameroon increase employment and create an economic corridor that radiates around the country," Zhang said 2022 shows a toll station of the Kribi-Lolabe Highway in Kribi A driver pays a fee at a toll station of the Kribi-Lolabe Highway in Kribi 2022 shows a view of the Kribi-Lolabe Highway in Kribi a coastal town in Cameroon located between the two large cities of Douala and Yaoundé the town of Kribi has received the gospel as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2024 was a very significant moment in the lives of investigators of the Church with the baptism of Nzie Bikoue Dilane and Shouana Daniel Alane who contracted baptismal covenants with the Lord in the waters of the Kinkié River This was proof that the work is progressing in this part of God’s vineyard Brother Pierre Kemle and Brother Samuel Missegue both former members of the Minboman Branch in the Yaoundé District The Church was not yet established in that area They met occasionally in Brother Kemle's home for family home evenings walked the streets of the city to bear their testimonies on the truth of the gospel and worked to bring souls to Christ by preaching in this part of His vineyard After 6 years of hard work and facing much persecution these two pioneers of the Church pressed forward with their eyes fixed on the Lord and they held firmly to the iron bar in the Bikondo District will increase the number of members in Kribi soon with 12 baptisms You are about to access Constant Contacts (http://visitor.constantcontact.com) You are now leaving a website maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints We provide the link to this third party's website solely as a convenience to you and security practices that differ from those on our website By referring or linking you to this website we do not endorse or guarantee this content If you would like to stay on the page you are viewing please click Cancel To download media files, please first review and agree to the Terms of Use Download a photo or video by clicking or tapping on it To download all photos or videos related to this article select the links at the bottom of each section (Business in Cameroon) - During a visit to the Nachtigal dam site on September 19 announced that the Kribi gas plant (216 MW) is once again shut down owes the plant's owner and independent producer GLOBELEQ.  "Globeleq initially reduced the production at the Kribi plant before shutting it down completely we have observed that Kribi is supplying 14 MW to the grid," said an internal source at Eneo Despite most units at Kribi being offline and the low water levels affecting the Ntem River which reduced production at the Memve'ele dam to 100 MW (from an installed capacity of 211 MW) Cameroon currently faces an electricity production deficit of about 30 MW "The deficit could have been much larger if not for a combination of favorable factors that helped offset the losses from the Kribi shutdown and the reduced output from Memve'ele," the source added These favorable factors include a drop in electricity demand from households and businesses during the rainy season as well as the gradual commissioning of units at the new Nachtigal plant Since the first unit went online in June 2024 Nachtigal's output has steadily increased from 60 MW in June to 120 MW in August "The goal is to commission an additional unit each month We expect to have the fourth unit online by the end of October with all seven units operational by the end of January 2025." internal sources in the electricity sector warn that starting in October-November 2024 the anticipated rise in demand from households and businesses may exceed the increased production capacity of Nachtigal alone Significant challenges remain to ensure a stable supply for consumers stakeholders in the electricity system are closely monitoring water levels in the northern regions as well as in the interconnected southern network that covers seven of the country's ten regions and investing in transport and distribution networks to ensure energy from Nachtigal can be delivered Efforts are also underway to restore the financial balance in the sector," Eneo detailed in its latest report on electricity service A proven petroleum system and strong government support are two of the key drivers for hydrocarbon exploration newly reprocessed PSDM seismic data using CGG’s latest technology provides the third vital driver for near-term high-impact exploration Cameroon has established itself as a hydrocarbon-rich region with production occurring in both the Rio Del Rey (RDR) and Douala/Kribi-Campo (DKC) basins Located at the eastern extension of the Niger Delta RDR is a basin with existing infrastructure and ongoing production despite discoveries confirming active petroleum systems Petroleum exploration began onshore in the DKC basin in the 1950s but it wasn’t until the first offshore discovery in 1979 initially targeting Cretaceous tilted fault blocks younger reservoirs were drilled in the offshore portion of the DKC basin resulting in just a couple of commercial discoveries (Yoyo and Yolanda) and producing fields (Alen and Aseng) from Miocene channel sands previously evaluated the region by examining well results and legacy seismic data With strong evidence for the existence of regional source rock and reservoir likely reasons for well failure are charge-access These are common challenges in passive margins where prospects have a strong stratigraphic trap component The limitation of the legacy seismic dataset was undoubtedly another factor for well failure Many of the prospects drilled on the slope are situated below a complicated overburden with an equally complicated velocity field even small errors can have a large impact on these prospects due to the subtlety of traps the legacy seismic data is not optimised for examining the finer details of fault systems nor for delineating the architecture of the target reservoirs Recognising the need for depth-processed data to enable seamless analysis of the geological prospectivity CGG reimaged a multi-client 3D PSDM seismic volume of approximately 6,800 square km from ten legacy surveys High-end proprietary imaging technologies were subsequently used to overcome reservoir-imaging challenges posed by the vintage data Figure 1 demonstrates the clear improvements in reflector continuity and noise attenuation Joint source and receiver 3D Ghost Wavefield Elimination helped achieve higher quality data in terms of both frequency bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio particularly in deeper seismic events where low frequencies have been restored This is especially apparent in the southern deep-water DKC blocks together with model-based water-layer demultiple and surface-related multiple elimination was applied to remove the multiples in the shallow water area Adjacent surveys were used to ensure consistency and model accuracy at the edges This improved the imaging down to depths greater than 3,000 m and increased confidence in the seismic facies where reservoirs such as the oil-filled Paleocene channel in Coco Marine-1 Multiple tomography passes were performed using a multi-layer approach to build an accurate regional velocity model Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) was applied to reveal the shallow lateral velocity variations and distortions Small-scale gas pockets and channels were identified and incorporated into the model along with facies changes in the clinoforms (Figure 2) The velocity model was also constrained by well data to provide a robust subsurface image where well data indicate stacked high-velocity channel sands the original seismic suffered from significant pull-up The new data improves the positioning of these events and demonstrates that the PSDM reprocessing over a time stretch to depth approach was needed Seismic attributes extracted from the PSDM dataset using stratal slices were interpreted to map the distribution of submarine fan and channels The Bamboo-1 well penetrated a number of such stacked reservoir features but opportunities clearly remain and by solving the challenges of legacy seismic data the PSDM reimaging will undoubtedly help de-risk future drilling Cameroon offers a supportive environment for hydrocarbon exploration with the government increasingly keen to leverage Cameroon’s oil and gas resources the 2019 Petroleum Code offers improved regionally competitive fiscal terms and flexibility when negotiating production sharing contracts the new bilateral cooperation agreement between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea for the exploitation of cross-border oil and gas fields paves the way not only for the commercialisation of Yoyo and Yolanda but also for future discoveries will be used as a feedstock to Equatorial Guinea’s Gas Mega Hub the three vital drivers for near-term high-impact exploration in Cameroon are in place: a proven petroleum system government support for exploration and now the tools to accurately interpret the subsurface thanks to the newly re-imaged PSDM volume by CGG Henk KombrinkHenk.Kombrink@geoexpro.com+44 77 8899 2374 Sales DirectorIngvild Ryggen CarstensSales Enquiries+47 974 69 090 2022 shows a toll station of the Chinese-built Kribi-Lolabe Highway in Kribi Cameroon has inaugurated the Chinese-built Kribi-Lolabe Highway which will greatly facilitate the movement of vehicles and people from any part of the country to the Kribi Deep Seaport.  July 30 (Xinhua) -- A major Chinese-built highway in southwestern Cameroon was inaugurated on Friday The highway will facilitate the movement of vehicles and persons from any part of the country to the Kribi Deep Seaport "The operation of the highway will greatly improve the business environment in Cameroon increase employment and create an economic corridor that radiates around the country," Zhang said.■ The town of Kribi is in shock after a 17-year-old girl was abducted and murdered a few days after responding to a job offer posted on social media Lebledparle.com learned this Monday morning the victim was contacted in Douala by an individual offering her a job in Kribi she was kidnapped and her kidnapper demanded a ransom of 200,000 FCFA Despite the pleas of the young girl and her family the worst still happened as Darolle’s lifeless body was found a few days later in the town of Kribi Darolle Lemoukeng’s family is devastated was brutally torn from the affection of her family The grieving parents have travelled to Kribi to recover what remains of their daughter’s body this tragedy highlights the dangers of social media in Cameroon today These media are increasingly being used by criminals to lure their victims with fraudulent job offers that are frequently posted and unfortunately young people in particular are often the prime targets of these crooks The authorities are calling on the public to exercise the utmost vigilance and caution when responding to job offers posted on social networks. It is important to check the identity of the potential employer and never hand over any money before obtaining all the necessary guarantees. The police have launched an investigation to find the perpetrator or perpetrators of this heinous crime. les actualités camerounaises et la revue de presse Lebledparle.com à ne pas manquer Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Actualité du Cameroun ce matinKribi Lebledparle.com is a site dedicated to news in Cameroon news from Cameroon and all useful information analyzes and all the news in real time and continuously The navigation channel of the Cameroon’s Kribi Deepwater Port Phase II Project successfully passed acceptance testing and was put into use on May 2 The 1,015-m channel has a depth of 15 meters According to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) the channel’s operation will further facilitate the efficient navigation of vessels at the port it lays a solid foundation for subsequent construction marking a new stage in the construction of the project Gateway into Cameroon and the countries in its hinterland including Chad and the Central African Republic this new terminal is set to underpin commerce across the region and accelerate the country’s growth Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox