Central African Republic Signs Mining Deal as CVMR Wins Five Licences
Key Facts
- What happened. Montage Afrique, led by CEO Ogochukwu Ezeaku, signed an MoU with the CAR government in Bangui to start mining operations; Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou represented the state, according to Leadership newspaper.
- How big. Separately, Canada’s CVMR Corp won five exploration licences covering roughly 2,500 square kilometres, some of it uranium-bearing ground around Bakouma, Africa Intelligence reports.
- The catch. An MoU is not a mining permit, and exploration licences are not production. CAR has a long history of announced mining ventures that stalled on security, infrastructure and financing.
- Who it hits. Mining investors watching Central Africa’s underexplored belt, communities around Bakouma and other licence areas, and a government in Bangui looking for revenue beyond aid and logging.
- What comes next. Montage Afrique says it is preparing to commence activities. CVMR must now explore and prove resources. Watch for actual ground work, not ceremonies.
A Nigerian group has signed a mining agreement in Bangui days before reports that a Canadian firm won five exploration licences, including ground with uranium. One of the world’s least-covered mining frontiers is getting attention.
The Central African Republic has signed a memorandum of understanding with Montage Afrique, a Nigerian mining group, to begin mining activities in the country. Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou attended the signing in Bangui. Days later, Africa Intelligence reported that Canada’s CVMR Corporation has won five exploration licences covering about 2,500 square kilometres, including ground prospective for uranium.
Two doors opening at once
The Montage Afrique agreement was signed in Bangui with the Minister of Mines and Geology, Rufin Benam Beltoungou, in attendance, Leadership reports. The Nigerian group, which presents itself as an African mining investment vehicle, says it is set to commence mining activities in the country. Details of the minerals targeted, the sites and the investment size were not disclosed in the announcement.
The second development is quieter but potentially larger. Africa Intelligence reported on 18 September that CVMR Corporation, a Canadian firm specialising in nickel refining technology, has secured five sought-after exploration licences in CAR covering about 2,500 square kilometres. Part of the licensed ground lies around Bakouma in the east — an area known for uranium, where France’s Orano has retained interests for years without developing them. CVMR’s plans for the licences have not been detailed publicly.
Why CAR, and why now
The Central African Republic sits on significant deposits of gold, diamonds, uranium and iron ore, yet industrial mining has barely begun. Decades of instability, almost no roads or power, and a contested security environment have kept large miners away. The state earns most of its income from aid, forestry and artisanal gold and diamonds. Bangui has been actively courting new investors as it tries to diversify, and Russian-linked operators have shown how quickly licence areas can change hands in this market.
The timing matters. An IMF-backed programme and African Development Bank support have nudged the economy toward modest growth, and the AfDB projects expansion continuing this year. The government is keen to convert geological promise into budget revenue before donor patience thins.
What this means for investors and expats
For mining investors, CAR is the definition of frontier: high geological upside, extreme logistical and political risk, and a licence registry that rewards diligence. The CVMR awards signal that Bangui is willing to allocate serious ground to newcomers. For the small expat community — aid agencies, UN staff, traders — new mining ventures would slowly change the economy outside the capital, but nothing in these announcements moves daily life in Bangui yet.
What Is Not Known
The financial terms of the Montage Afrique MoU, the minerals covered and any timeline to production are undisclosed. For CVMR, the exact licence locations beyond the Bakouma reference, the work commitments attached and the company’s financing are not public. Whether either project survives contact with CAR’s infrastructure and security reality is the standing unknown of every mining announcement in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What mining deal did the Central African Republic just sign?
The government signed a memorandum of understanding in Bangui with Montage Afrique, a Nigerian mining group led by CEO Ogochukwu Ezeaku, to begin mining activities, with Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou attending.
What did Canada’s CVMR win in the Central African Republic?
According to Africa Intelligence, CVMR Corporation won five exploration licences covering about 2,500 square kilometres, including uranium-prospective ground around Bakouma, where France’s Orano has long held interests.
Does the Central African Republic have active industrial mining?
Not really. Despite gold, diamond, uranium and iron ore deposits, industrial mining is minimal; the economy runs on aid, forestry and artisanal extraction. New agreements are steps toward, not proof of, production.
Connected Coverage
Sources
Leadership — Montage Afrique Set To Commence Mining Activities In Central Africa · Africa Intelligence — Canada’s CVMR Corp wins five sought-after mining licences
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief