Wood has been awarded a significant engineering contract for the Ngovayang Iron Ore project in Southern Cameroon, a pioneering mining venture in the country. This project will contribute to the growing global demand for resources crucial to the energy transition.
Awarded by Cameroon Mining Action SA (Camina), a subsidiary of Jindal Group Company, the contract tasks Wood with delivering sustainable engineering and design solutions for the construction of a mineral processing plant. The plant is projected to produce up to 7.2 million tonnes of magnetite iron ore annually. Wood’s services will also encompass the associated plant infrastructure and a cutting-edge 130km concentrate pipeline transport system to the Port of Kribi.
This landmark project positions Wood as a leading engineering contractor in Cameroon’s nascent mining industry. Camina has invested heavily in exploring the Ngovayang site over the last decade. The remote, mountainous location and heavy rainfall climate present significant engineering challenges, demanding sophisticated solutions.
Gerry Traynor, President of Projects-Eastern Hemisphere at Wood, commented, “Wood’s iron ore processing capabilities and experience on similar highly challenging, complex and remote projects position us well to deliver this important project with Camina. We’re proud to be working on one of Cameroon’s first projects of its kind, partnering closely with Camina to ensure positive and sustainable outcomes for our client and their stakeholders. The iron ore market is expected to grow to nearly $400 billion by 2032 in line with the demand for critical energy transition resources. Projects like Ngovayang will become the blueprint for further developing Cameroon’s minerals and metals offering, positioning the country as critical to resourcing the energy transition.”
The engineering scope is scheduled for completion in Q2 2025 and will be primarily executed by Wood’s Johannesburg office.