Cameroon : Sundance Iron Ore Mine Railway & Port (Page 1) / International Discussion / Forums / Railpage

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awsgc24 Minister for Railways

Location: Sydney

Sundance Resources, an Australian Company, is gradually moving towards getting its Mine, 510km Railway, and Port built.

It will carry about 35MTpa of ore for 30 years. The line is of standard gauge.

See: http://www.sundanceresources.com.au/irm/content/the-mbalam-nabeba-project.aspx?RID=217&RedirectCount=1 for map of line.

There is also a 70km branch line to related iron ore deposits in Congo (Brazzaville).

One hopes that they haven't "missed the boat", since iron ore prices have fallen steeply in recent times.

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awsgc24 Minister for Railways

Location: Sydney

The Chinese billionaire, Liu Han, associated with the Sundance iron ore project in Cameroon, has been, according to the Financial Review, executed for financial and criminal activities.

freightgate Minister for Railways

Location: Albury, New South Wales

The costs of Mining in Africa should be much lower than Australia. Lower cost base means the price can still go lower meaning the mine is still viable.

YM-Mundrabilla Minister for Railways

Location: Mundrabilla but I'd rather be in Narvik

The costs of Mining in Africa should be much lower than Australia. Lower cost base means the price can still go lower meaning the mine is still viable.
freightgate

They will still be battling to beat the technology employed in the Pilbara and Africa is a lot further from China than Port Hedland.

awsgc24 Minister for Railways

Location: Sydney

The share price of Sundance Resources has dropped heavily to 2.5c, in line with the drop in the iron ore price, but the company still reakons that it still has a viable project.

See: http://www.sundanceresources.com.au/IRM/ShowDownloadDoc.aspx?SiteId=245&AnnounceGuid=63d06d85-f066-4599-854e-cd23e3eae050

awsgc24 Minister for Railways

Location: Sydney

Sundance is selling the railway and the port to the Cameroon government, so that is can concentrate on the mining operations. It will of course pay a tariff to use that railway and port.

See: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/28632263/sundance-hives-off-port-rail-plans/

WimbledonW Chief Train Controller

Location: Sydney

Sundance is selling the railway and the port to the Cameroon government, so that is can concentrate on the mining operations. It will of course pay a tariff to use that railway and port.

See: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/28632263/sundance-hives-off-port-rail-plans/
awsgc24

About Sundance Resources as at July 2020:

Sundance Resources Ltd, an Australian Company listed on the ASX, is seeking to develop its flagship Mbalam-Nabeba Iron Ore Project, which straddles the border of Cameroon and the Republic of Congo in Central Africa.

Stage One will be the production of a Direct Shipping Ore (“DSO”)-quality sinter fines product averaging >62.0% Fe at a rate of 40Mtpa for approximately 14 years based on blending material sourced from the deposits in the neighbouring countries of Cameroon and Congo.

Stage Two, which is currently at a Pre-Feasibility Stage, would then extend the life of the operation by further 15-plus years producing high-grade Itabirite hematite concentrate.

In April 2011, Sundance completed its Definitive Feasibility Study for Stage One and Pre-Feasibility Study for Stage Two of the Mbalam-Nabeba Iron Ore Project.

The Project will utilise the rail and port infrastructure to be financed, built and owned by the Government of Cameroon, a 540km rail line dedicated to the transport of iron ore through Cameroon and a dedicated mineral export terminal designed for taking bulk iron ore carriers of up to 300,000 tonnes.

The railway will be available for other traffic, such as timber.

A branch line serves the mine in Congo-Brazzaville.

WimbledonW Chief Train Controller

Location: Sydney

The port of Kribi is being developed as a deep water port which beats the existing shallow port to the north. This is originally for iron ore traffic. The port is now owned by the government, and is multi-user.

A new bauxite mine adjacent to the rail line in the north of Cameroon is being developed, and will share Port Kribi. Isn't that serendipidious?

The mine is at Minim Martap.

See https://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/cameroon-minim-martap-bauxite-project-site-visit-advances-pfs

The rail lines at the port would be 1435mm and 1000mm gauges to begin with. A 130km connecting line joining Kribi with Edea near Douala is needed. Since the metre gauge line to the bauxite mine, via the capital city, needs to be upgraded, and maybe dual gauge sleepers will be installed.

For details of the Sundance iron ore project see https://sundanceresources.com.au/irm/content/the-mbalam-nabeba-project.aspx?RID=217

The iron mine(s) is at Mbalam & Nabeba

Edited at least 2 times.

WimbledonW Chief Train Controller

Location: Sydney

For PARENT THREAD see https://www.railpage.com.au/f-p2189234.htm#2189234

WimbledonW Chief Train Controller

Location: Sydney

The port of Kribi is being developed as a deep water port which beats the existing shallow port to the north. This is originally for iron ore traffic. The port is now owned by the government, and is multi-user.

A new bauxite mine "adjacent" to the rail line in the north of Cameroon is being developed, and will share Port Kribi. Isn't that serendipidious?

The mine is at Minim Martap.

See https://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/cameroon-minim-martap-bauxite-project-site-visit-advances-pfs

The rail lines at the port would be 1435mm and 1000mm gauges to begin with. A connecting line joining Kribi with Douala is needed. Since the metre gauge line to the bauxite mine, via the capital city, needs to be upgraded, and maybe dual gauge sleepers will be installed.
WimbledonW

While progress on the SGR iron ore line is going slow, good progress is being made on the new Kribi Port and associated Industrial Area and township. The Kribi port will handle bigger ships than the old Douala port some 200km to the north. There is no specific mention of rail infrastructure, only "New and improved transportation infrastructure".

There needs to be a related thread catering for ports in general, which might be called "Africa Ports and Rail"

See https://www.louisberger.com/our-work/project/kribi-port-and-industrial-complex-cameroon .

The bauxite mine at Minim is being developed by an Australian listed company,

Canyon Resources, ASX:CAY. See http://www.medianet.com.au/releases/191352/

For PARENT THREAD see https://www.railpage.com.au/f-p2189234.htm#2189234

WimbledonW Chief Train Controller

Location: Sydney

The rail lines at Kribi port would be 1435mm and 1000mm gauges to begin with. A connecting line joining Kribi with Edea (near Douala) is needed. The metre gauge line to the bauxite mine, via the capital city of Yaounde, needs to be upgraded, and maybe dual gauge sleepers will be installed to suit long range plans.The high quality and large bauxite deposits practically straddle the metre gauge line, and that line and its bridges, etc., are currently being upgraded for the expected heavier traffic. Crossing loops would also have to be extended. There is also a alumina smelter in the country.

Kribi will be developed as a transport hub with a planned city nearby. Also a new airport.

A 130km link to a new deepwater port (Capesize) at Kribi is also mooted. Also a parallel road.

Some bauxite deposits at Mayouom are not near any rail line, about 200km away.

The Australian mining Company in question is ASX:CAY listed Canyon Resources, which has been hovering around 12c for several years. Eight years ago it was 50c.

A slight problem is that the 20-year franchise for Camrail started in 1999 would have expired in 2019, with no information about its extension. Note that Camrail is focussed on Bauxite traffic from Minim.

WimbledonW Chief Train Controller

Location: Sydney

Added commented to previous post about Camrail franchise extension.

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