CAMEROON; CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC —A major infrastructure project in Central Africa has reached a critical financing milestone to bridge a landlocked mining region with international maritime routes. The Export-Import Bank of India has agreed to provide USD 6 billion in debt financing to construct a 1,350-kilometer dual-track heavy-haul railway line connecting the Central African Republic to the deep-water Port of Kribi in Cameroon. Designed to handle up to 300,000 tonnes of daily freight capacity, operational mobilization for the rail corridor is scheduled for late 2026 under a development partnership with China Railway Sixth Group.
This cross-border infrastructure deal is essential to unlocking one of the largest unexploited high-grade iron ore assets globally, estimated at over 20 billion tonnes of resource potential. Mineral access in the Central African Republic has long been hindered by a lack of transport routes to ocean terminals, severely limiting commercial extraction. By establishing a direct export pipeline, the railway converts isolated geological assets into active commercial inventory, expanding global access to key raw materials including strategic critical minerals, rare earths, and copper.
The creation of a high-capacity logistics network across Central Africa fundamentally alters regional economic dynamics and international supply chains. Beyond serving immediate mining operations, the dual-track system provides freight capabilities that can carry agricultural products, industrial imports, and general cargo, stimulating cross-border commerce between Cameroon and landlocked trade zones. For maritime transport operators and port authorities at Kribi, the influx of bulk cargo solidifies the facility's role as a major shipping hub along the West African coast.
For international investors and downstream industrial buyers, the multi-billion-dollar funding commitment mitigates critical execution risks associated with frontier mining projects. The participation of major state-backed entities from India and China highlights growing competitive interest in securing long-term strategic mineral supplies. Furthermore, the successful deployment of capital into regional transport corridors offers a viable model for unlocking isolated mineral basins across Sub-Saharan Africa through targeted infrastructure investments.
A&S Resources is an international resource development enterprise focused on exploring and extracting mineral assets, strategic metals, and rare earth elements across Central Africa.
EXIM Bank of India is a financial institution established by the Government of India to finance, facilitate, and promote foreign trade and cross-border investment.
