On 23 April, Canyon released its March 2026 quarterly update, confirming that the Minim Martap Bauxite Project in Cameroon has entered a key execution phase, with the surface miner now mobilised to site and mining operations scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.
The company said first production remains on track for the second quarter of 2026, supported by continued progress across critical infrastructure and logistics development.
A major milestone in the project’s rail and transport readiness was reached at the end of March with the shipment of the first seven locomotives. These locomotives are expected to arrive at the Port of Douala in late Q2 and will play a central role in supporting the movement of bauxite from the mine to export channels. The Company is also continuing its discussions with Camrail regarding a potential increase in its equity interest in Camrail above the current 9.1% holding.
The development of rail logistics remains a critical component of the Minim Martap project, ensuring efficient transport capacity for the high-grade bauxite resource as operations scale up.
Canyon also confirmed that off-take discussions are progressing with multiple partners, with strong market interest driven by the premium quality of the ore. The company noted that the high-grade nature of the bauxite continues to attract significant attention from potential buyers.
While first production is expected in Q2, the first shipment has now been scheduled for late Q3 2026, with a ramp-up to full-scale shipments anticipated during Q4 2026.
The Minim Martap Bauxite Project is regarded as one of the significant emerging mining developments in Central Africa, with its logistics and rail infrastructure expected to play an important role in supporting Cameroon’s broader export and industrial ambitions.
