CAMEROON · CRITICAL MINERALS
Key Facts
- The country Cameroon is a Central African country with Yaoundé as capital and an economy built on oil, cocoa and timber.
- What happened On Tuesday 27 October 2026, Mines Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry toured Minta rare earths with US embassy diplomats.
- The project Australian explorer Lion Rock Minerals runs Minta, which holds 18 exploration permits over about 8,800 square kilometres in the Centre region.
- The US link US titanium maker Tronox bought about 5% of Lion Rock in 2025 for A$8.6 million (about US$6.1 million).
- What was promised Officials spoke of a railway of about 40 kilometres to the mine area, more power supply and jobs for nearby villages.
- Still open No mineral resource estimate, mining licence or investment decision exists yet, so no ore has been mined for sale.
Cameroon’s mines minister toured the Minta rare earths project on Tuesday 27 October 2026 with a delegation from the US embassy. The visit puts a remote forest district on the map of American efforts to find critical minerals outside China.
Minta lies in the Haute-Sanaga department, roughly in the middle of the country. For US readers, the trip shows how Washington and Yaoundé test a partnership long before any mine exists.
What Happened at Minta on 27 October
Fuh Calistus Gentry, the minister of mines, industry and technological development, travelled to Minta on 27 October, the Cameroonian press reported. He was joined by diplomats from the US embassy led by the chargé d’affaires, the senior American diplomat in the country.
Local administrators, municipal officials and traditional chiefs welcomed the group. They heard how far exploration has come and what it could bring to the area.
The visit then moved to a site called Nguen, where company teams presented their exploration work. Gentry praised the investment by Lion Rock Minerals and the support of the US government.
Who Is Behind the Project
Lion Rock Minerals is a small Australian company listed on the Australian stock exchange. It holds the Minta permits and has been drilling the area through 2026.
Tronox Holdings, a US group that produces titanium products, became its strategic partner in October 2025. It paid A$8.6 million (about US$6.1 million) for roughly 5% of Lion Rock and agreed to give technical and commercial help.
Chief executive Theuns de Bruyn said in July that Minta offers exposure to at least 12 of the 60 minerals on the US 2025 list. He tied this to a three-way partnership between Cameroon, the United States and Australia.
What the Ground Holds
Rare earths are a group of 17 metals used in the strong magnets inside electric cars, wind turbines, phones and weapons. China refines most of them today, which is why Western governments are searching for other sources.
At Minta the rare earths sit in a mineral called monazite, found in river sand and soil. Lion Rock reports concentrates with up to about 74% monazite and says neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium are present.
The area also holds rutile, a titanium ore used in paint pigments and welding rods. Along the Mboma-Loum corridor, the company has recorded up to 72.7% heavy minerals in samples.
Railway, Power and Jobs for Villages
Officials said the project could bring an extension of the railway of about 40 kilometres to the mine area. They also named stronger electricity supply and jobs for local people among the expected gains.
Gentry repeated that Cameroon wants responsible mining that creates work, transfers technology and keeps more value inside the country. The government has said before that residents near the sites should be the first to benefit.
The tour fits a plan Gentry announced in Yaoundé on 16 July for field inspections of exploration sites in late 2026. That plan named British, Australian and American partners and the state miner Sonamines.
What It Means for US Readers
American makers of magnets, batteries and defence equipment want rare earths that do not pass through Chinese plants. Minta rare earths are at an early stage, but a US company already holds a stake and the US embassy is visiting the site.
Tronox has named Minta a potential supplier for its future rare earths plant, an investment valued at US$600 million. Investors in Lion Rock face the usual risks of a small explorer, since drilling results can move the share price either way.
Readers can follow related deals in our guide to foreign powers and investors in Cameroon. Any real output is years away, so this is a story about supply chains of the next decade.
What Is Not Known
Lion Rock has not published a formal mineral resource estimate for Minta, so the size of the deposit is unproven. The company has said such estimates for rutile and monazite should follow within roughly 12 to 18 months of a recent interview.
The railway, power and jobs plans were described as expected benefits, with no cost, funder or timetable given. Neither the government nor the company has said when a mining licence could be requested.
It is also unclear whether Tronox will raise its stake or buy rare earths from Minta. No supply contract has been announced.
More: Cameroon news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Minta in Cameroon?
Minta rare earths lie near a town in the Haute-Sanaga department of the Centre region, north-east of the capital Yaoundé. The exploration permits cover about 8,800 square kilometres of forest and farmland.
Who visited the Minta site on 27 October 2026?
Mines Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry visited Minta rare earths with a delegation from the US embassy, led by the chargé d’affaires. Local officials and traditional chiefs received them.
Is rare earth mining already happening at Minta?
No, Minta rare earths are still in the exploration phase, with drilling crews testing river sands and soils. No resource estimate or mining licence has been announced.
What role does Tronox play at Minta?
Tronox is a US titanium producer that bought about 5% of Lion Rock in October 2025 for A$8.6 million (about US$6.1 million). It gives technical help and has named Minta a possible supplier.
Why does the United States care about rare earths in Cameroon?
Rare earths go into magnets for electric cars, wind turbines and defence systems, and China dominates their supply. Washington wants more partners, and Cameroon, the United States and Australia have a supply chain partnership.
Sources: Cameroon Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, field visit to Minta, 28 October 2026; Lion Rock Minerals, ASX release on Minta Est drilling and the US embassy visit, 20 July 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error