It is a decisive turning point in the industrial history of Cameroon. The country inaugurated its very first clinker production plant on June 12, 2025, marking a major strategic advancement in the cement sector. Led by Cimencam (Cimenteries du Cameroun), a subsidiary of the giant Lafarge-Holcim, this new facility located in Figuil, in the Northern region, is designed to produce 1,000 tons of clinker and 1,900 tons of cement per day.
Presided over by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, the inauguration ceremony was an opportunity to celebrate an achievement that is both industrial, economic, and symbolic. “This is the first plant of its kind in Cameroon. It is the industrialization of Cameroon that is underway,” declared the head of government.
A break from dependence on imports
Until now, Cameroon was entirely dependent on imports for its supply of clinker, a key ingredient in cement manufacturing. In 2023, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), the country spent nearly 87.7 billion CFA francs to import 2.4 million tons of this material, mainly from Algeria (20%) and Turkey (18.7%). This dependence alone represented 1.8% of the national import total.
With this new production unit, the dynamic changes. Cameroon is now able to locally meet a growing demand for cement while reducing its import bill. “This is a historic moment, the culmination of a collective commitment but above all a strategic advancement to meet the growing demand,” praised Xavier Legrand, Managing Director of Cimencam.
Sub-regional ambition
In addition to the goal of self-sufficiency in the northern part of the country, this plant also opens the door to regional ambitions. Thanks to its geographical proximity to the Chadian and Central African borders, Figuil becomes a strategic logistical platform for exporting clinker to neighboring countries. Cimencam intends to make Cameroon a sub-regional hub in the production of cement and its essential components.
An investment of 60 billion CFA francs
The result of two years of work (2021-2023) at a total cost of 60 billion CFA francs, the new production line covers 22 hectares. It is equipped with a high-temperature kiln (1,450°C), crushers, a 2,500-ton flour silo, and a clinker storage shed with a capacity of 21,000 tons. An adjacent quarry, equipped with a 3,000 tons/hour crusher, supplies the plant with raw materials.
The project also benefits from the support of the Cameroonian government. In February 2023, the government granted Cimencam an operating permit for the Bidzar marble deposit, located in the same region. This deposit, estimated at 16.7 million tons, is expected to provide the plant with a sustainable resource for the next 25 years.
An industrial power boost
This new production line strengthens the 40-year-old Figuil cement plant. With an additional production capacity of 350,000 tons per year, the plant can now produce up to 500,000 tons of cement annually. At the national level, Cimencam’s total capacity rises to 2.3 million tons per year.
Cameroon is thus entering a new era, where industry becomes a lever for growth and regional integration. By transforming its resources locally, the country asserts a clear will: to develop a resilient industrial fabric, capable not only of meeting domestic demand but also of shining beyond its borders.
